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Turkey Trouble?

Wolcott, Vermont - April 24, 2007

Trina Trucott returned to the scene of a motorcycle crash that left her with six broken bones including her pelvis and a vertebrae.

"It's very weird being here," she said.

With help from her twin-sister and step-mom, she walked to the edge of the 50 foot embankment she was thrown over.

"In a matter of seconds he hit me," she said.

He wasn't another motorist. He was a turkey.

"It happened so fast. The turkey was on that side of the road and he flew up," she said pointing across Route 15.

The turkey hit Trucott in the head knocking her unconscious before crashing her bike. Fortunately, witnesses saw it happen and called for help.

"I really don't remember much until I got to the hospital," she said.

"We're lucky she's alive," said her step-mom, Alfreda Trucott.  She choked back tears as she continued.  "It's scary.  It really is. But she could have been a lot worse. I just thank God that she's with us."

Now Trucott and her family want the state to extend the turkey hunt to reduce the growing population of wild turkeys before someone else gets hurt.

"There's too many turkeys," said Trina Trucott.

In 1969, there were no turkeys in Vermont. The population had been wiped out. That's when the Fish and Wildlife Department reintroduced the native bird. 20 turkeys were captured in southern New York and released in Pawlet, Vermont. Nearly 40 years later, the turkey population is more than 40 thousand.

"The turkey population is healthy and abundant," said Ron Regan, of the Vt. Fish and Wildlife.

The Fish and Wildlife Department says currently there are no plans to expand the turkey hunt again. In 2004, officials made it state-wide. Officials say the hunt is successfully maintaining the population.

"There's a lot of hunter satisfaction with the number of birds in this state. There's been some cautious or conservative expansion. I don't know that the numbers of vehicle collisions with turkeys will ever rise to the level that moose or deer might and drive management recommendations," said Regan.

Last year, motorist reported hitting 40 turkeys in Vermont. Though officials suspect more collisions actually happened.

"I am a lucky girl. I really am," said Trucott.

After her freak accident, she has a long road to recovery and hopes no turkeys get in her way.

Darren Perron - WCAX News