MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (WJAR) — Gravy, the beloved turkey often seen roaming around Middletown, is recovering after being hit by a car last week.
Many know Gravy, the wild turkey, for walking the streets and pecking at cars around town.
His daily walk took a tragic turn on Jan. 30 when Gravy was hit by a vehicle.
Hannah Proulx, a rehabilitator at Congress of the Birds, got the initial call that said Gravy had been hurt.
Cate Hanewich reports on Gravy the turkey, who was recovering after being hit by a car in Middletown. (WJAR)
“I was not hopeful. I was preparing myself for the worst,” Proulx said.
He was rushed to Congress of the Birds, a wildlife rehabilitator in Glocester.
“He had periocular swelling, which is swelling around the eyes, probably from a concussion, had a bit of road rash,” Proulx said.
To their surprise, he pulled off an almost overnight recovery.
“The next morning, he was up, walking around, eating fine,” Proulx said. “Since then, he has been acting, pretty much like a normal tom should act.”
Congress of the Birds staff member Jen Chicoine said they’re now focusing on bringing him to good health.
“Basically, getting some topical stuff and trying to fatten him back up so he can be on his way again,” Chicoine said.
Though it is unclear when Gravy will be released, employees are looking into where he will go after the clinic.
“In most cases, we release animals back to where they came from. I know there’s been a lot of concern from the public and in general about releasing gravy back to a place where he could be hit by another car,” Chicoine said.
According to Rhode Island law, Congress of the Birds would need a permit to release Gravy in a different area than he was found, since trapping wildlife and relocating them to another spot is against the law.
Congress of the Birds said it has been in contact with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to give Gravy a safe place to call home.
“If possible, we would like for him to be on our 40 acres of untouched woodland with our flock of turkeys that we already have living here,” Proulx said.