ODNR: Mr. Gobbles' Whereabouts Unknown

Ever since Mentor Police joined Ohio wildlife officials in trying to capture the city's feathered fugitive, Mr. Gobbles, speculation on his location has varied wildly.

While officials still want to get the wild turkey to Lake Metroparks and out of busy intersections, they are unsure of where to find him.

"I've heard numerous rumors that the turkey was hit," state wildlife officer Jason Keller said, "but I've never seen the dead turkey.

"Last I heard, it was down in Kirtland Hills. That's about as much as I know.

The turkey was seen flying to the roof of a house near Chillicothe Road in Kirtland Hills after officers tried chasing him earlier this month. Since then, Mentor Patch readers have reported seeing him in a variety of locations, ranging from the intersection of routes 84 and 615 to Route 44 and Auburn Road in Concord Township. Others said they believe he was struck by a motorist.

Regardless, he's unlikely to return to the 84-306 intersection, where he had shacked up since November. Resident Mona Cramer believes so because that's where officials first started chasing him. Though her family grew found of him, she agreed to place an old dog cage in the driveway to try to catch him for wildlife officials.

"He wouldn't go anywhere near it," she said at a recent Mentor City Council meeting. "I felt like a traitor."