CAMBRIDGE - Animal lovers are speaking out against the shooting of a belligerent wild turkey shot at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.
Cemetery officials say state environmental workers shot the animal after it demonstrated repeated aggressive behavior toward the public.
The bird is one of two turkeys to die in the cemetery in recent weeks. Another wild turkey was found dead in the cemetery last weekend.
While the official cause of death of the second turkey remains unknown, animal lovers are accusing the cemetery of being responsible for the deaths of both birds. They think environmental workers could have captured the turkey and freed it elsewhere. Officials say that was not an option, since the turkey would then become someone else's problem.
Cemetery officials have received a number of complaints in the past few months about wild turkeys chasing them. A cemetery worker was hospitalized on May 14 after being attacked by the same turkey that was shot by environmental officials.
Cox Media Group
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