Turkey trouble in Castlegar leads to creation of unique road signs

Why did the turkeys cross the road? 

In the town of Castlegar no one knows for sure, but folks did realize the birds were becoming a growing hazard, especially on their daily traverse of Highway 3. 

So the city council commissioned a local shop to make two "Turkey Crossing" signs after learning no such signs were commercially available. 

City councillor Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff says drivers seem to be paying attention to the new signage.

"You know our tag line for Castlegar is happy ever after," Heaton-Sherstobitoff told CBC. "We take care of our neighbours and why doesn't that included our feathered friends."

Between 30 and 40 wild turkeys have taken roost in a vacant lot beside Highway 3, and locals report seeing them cross the road up to four times a day.

Unfortunately wild turkeys — which can fly, unlike their domestic cousins — are not very good at avoiding speeding cars.

The car-bird collisions haven't turned out well for drivers either.  

"When they got hit they actually came up and cracked people's windshield," said Heaton-Sherstobitoff. "So it started to be a serious safety concern."

Wildlife-vehicle encounters are nothing new in the West Kootenay town, although until recently it's been elk and deer that have presented the biggest risk.

The turkeys, which are not native to the Castlegar area, were introduced to the northern U.S. and Canada in the 1960's in the hopes of growing a viable hunting population.