Dunedin seaside suburb terrorised by turkey on rampage

Bemused onlookers walk cautiously toward a turkey on Norfolk St, in St Clair yesterday. Photo / Peter McIntosh

A "monster" turkey is roaming the streets of St Clair and chasing people at a popular Dunedin walking spot.

St Clair resident Martin Montgomery said he first encountered the turkey when he was running up Jacobs Ladder about a month ago.

"He jumped out at me and chased me in the dark.

"I didn't know what it was. It was huge, though, so I initially thought it was a dog."

Martin Montgomery.

Two weeks later the bird was in his driveway.

"I just pulled up in my car and when I got out I dropped everything and ran because he was going to go at me."

He has named the bird Elliott because "he looks like an Elliott".

On social media some people have named it Tom Turkey.

The bird has been spotted in Aberdeen Rd, Earls Rd, Lock St, Jacobs Ladder, Valpy St and Norfolk St in St Clair, as well as in neighbouring St Kilda.

Dunedin city councillor Conrad Stedman said he was also chased by the turkey on Jacobs Ladder.

"I had to duck out of the way. It was trying to take me out. It's a monster of a bird."

A St Clair resident said he noticed the turkey a month ago.

The "really big bird" would not fit in his oven, so the resident had made attempts on social media to find someone willing to give it a home.

City council environmental health and animal services manager Ros MacGill said the bird did not come under council control because no reports of disruption or nuisance had been received.