Turkey that terrorized Quebec town taken down by slingshot-wielding resident | CBC News

A wild turkey that was roaming the streets of Louiseville, Que., and chasing its residents was slain Thursday morning by a resident armed with a slingshot, according to Mayor Yvon Deshaies. 

Deshaies, who had issued a call to arms Wednesday, says he knew the man was a good shot and talked to him about taking down the turkey. 

Several residents of Louiseville — a town of about 5,000 — had filmed the turkey in question terrorizing people on the streets in videos that have since gone viral on Facebook. 

“When it’s attacking citizens, or children, a person in a wheelchair, it doesn’t matter — that’s not normal,” said Deshaies. “I defend my citizens.”

It is illegal to hunt wild turkeys in Quebec before the hunting season kicks off at the end of April. But, Deshaies says he has no regrets and that provincial police, the Sûreté du Québec, were present during the killing to ensure everyone’s safety. 

“I’m not going to wait for [the turkey] to scratch a child,” said Deshaies. 

Deshaies adds that he demanded help from Quebec’s Environment and Wildlife Ministry but never heard back. CBC has reached out to the ministry for comment. 

“If they bring me to jail, I’ll go,” said Deshaies.

The man who shot the turkey with a slingshot brought the claws back to the mayor and the bird will be cooked and eaten on Friday.