Butterball was a wild turkey who made her home in the town of Forbes Road (“Forbes Road residents shocked gobbler ‘Butterball’ shot by game warden,” Jan. 16, TribLIVE). The people of Forbes Road accepted her and took her in as one of their own; they fed her and looked after her for years. The children loved Butterball and played with her. She was even known to play basketball with the kids.

She had become a close companion to everyone in Forbes Road. I, too, had become used to seeing Butterball almost daily. The last time I saw her, she was perched on the railing at the Forbes Road Post Office. She was accompanied by two men, both of them petting her.

I did not see her for several days after that. You can imagine how angry I became when I found out what happened to her. Apparently someone did not think it was proper for a wild turkey to be hanging out near the post office and complained to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which apparently dispatched its bravest and most heartless big game hunter to dispose of this troublesome creature. This game warden shot the helpless tame turkey in front of several children.

To harm this animal in any way was inexcusable. This game warden and the thoughtless person who complained about Butterball should hang their heads in shame. Both the game warden and the complainer are now very unpopular people.

Rob Goodman

Unity

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