Turkeys Try to Catch Train Out of N.J.

RAMSEY, N.J. (AP) -- Some wild turkeys, it appears, were trying to get out of New Jersey before Thanksgiving Day. A spokesman for the NJ Transit said train officials reported a dozen or so wild turkeys waiting on a station platform in Ramsey (Ramsey Station), about 20 miles northwest of New York City, on Wednesday afternoon. The line travels to Suffern, N.Y.

''For a moment, it looked like the turkeys were waiting for the next outbound train,'' said Dan Stessel, a spokesman for NJ Transit. ''Clearly, they're trying to catch a train and escape their fate.''

Transit workers followed the bird's movements on surveillance cameras. ''I have no idea how they got there,'' Stessel said. New Jersey Transit released this security camera photo to the AP.

A Ramsey police dispatcher said the department had received three calls about the traveling turkeys who also were blamed for causing morning rush hour traffic problems on a roadway.

''From time to time, I've heard calls that there are turkeys on the loose,'' said Erik Endress, president of the Ramsey Rescue Squad, a volunteer group. ''Maybe they're trying to make a break.''

NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel says the turkeys flew away after this video image was taken and it is still unknown where they came from.

Source: Associated Press, NY Times, Midland Daily News,