Calgary's Turk the turkey presumed dead
Urban fowl sparked huge following on social media as he wandered inner-city Calgary
Turk the urban turkey, who has been roaming Ramsay and other parts of the inner city, appears to have died.
Avery Maxwell — a moderator for a Turk Facebook page Loyal Followers of the Ramsay Turkey that has over 6,000 followers — posted on Friday morning that it appeared Turk was taken by a coyote some time overnight in Bridgeland.
"Needless to say, this is devastating news for all of us. I'm personally heartbroken," she wrote on Facebook.
Maxwell said Turk was lucky enough to "thrive well beyond what would have been his original fate, and had so many interesting adventures and had so many who loved him."
She told CBC News that some blood-covered feathers were found strewn around Columbus Manor, where the bird was known to frequent in recent days and they're certain Turk is gone.
"We think what happened is he was probably in the area very early morning and there are coyotes in the area and they just took the opportunity.…We just hope that he went quickly," she said.
The turkey became a social media regular in Calgary after first being spotted over a year ago.
He was an unusual sight in the city and was often seen roaming through the southeast neighbourhood before venturing farther and farther afield, including strolls in the Beltline.
There was even a police chase caught on camera.
- WATCH | Calgary police and Turk got into an old-fashioned standoff back in March
Maxwell says there are still Turk shirts for sale, with all proceeds going to the Alberta Children's Hospital or the Calgary Food Bank, and the group will discuss whether to make a commemorative shirt as well.