Postman from Sacramento was accused of hunting wild turkeys.
The bird apparently attacked a postman on Monday, prompting him to grab a pole or stick from his car and fatally beat the animal with it, the Sacramento Bee reported, citing eyewitness reports on social media app Nextdoor.
The incident sparked an investigation by California authorities and the US Postal Service.
“We are currently beginning a thorough investigation,” Meiko Patton, a local USPS spokesman, told the publication. “Our employees have had several altercations with aggressive turkeys in the area, including a recent attack on a postman. We are working with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to mitigate this issue.”
“However, this statement is alarming, and if it is true, [is] unforgivable and [does] do not reflect the efforts of our more than 650,000 employees who faithfully serve and benefit America every day,” Patton added.
The USPS has filed complaints in the past about aggressive turkeys that roam the Creekside area.
A biologist who arrived in the area back in October “observed four turkeys actively and aggressively chasing the postman as he got off the mail truck,” said Capt. Patrick Foy, spokesman for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation.
The agents were unsuccessful in their attempts to catch aggressive turkeys, Foy said, prompting mail carriers to defend themselves in a variety of ways, including kicking, using pepper spray, or brandishing mail bags.
The neighbors were divided over the wild turkeys.
“Half the neighborhood was furious that the postman killed the turkey,” Foy said. “The other half is furious that someone won’t come out and get rid of all the turkeys.”