CLEVELAND — A neighborhood nuisance, or nature at its best?
It's a growing debate in Willoughby right now as wild turkeys take over one part of the town.
The homes along Reeves Road are just steps from Chagrin River Park, a wooded oasis for wildlife. However, some people who live there would like to see the growing turkey population stay put.
Laura Kidder, who has lived on Reeves Road for three decades, is one of them.
“We've had a huge increase over the last five years," Kidder said.
Kidder said part of the problem is that some of her neighbors feed the turkeys.
"I'm not sure it's the healthiest thing for people walking up and down the street. So, safety is my number one concern for people," Kidder said.
The turkey takeover even got the attention of city leaders who installed crossing signs for drivers.
Kidder would like to see them do even more by finding a way to reduce the number of birds stopping by.
"I know people love nature and stuff, but there's a place for them and having them in your yard, front yard and porch is not the place for them," Kidder said.
On the nuisance scale, Kidder rates the turkeys a nine out of 10.
"It's one thing to see a couple every now and then. It's something to see 30 to 40 of them in your yard all around, playing havoc on your plants," Kidder said.
The city services director said they actually get more complaints about the number of deer in this part of town, which he said cause a lot more damage to properties than the turkeys.
