Wild turkey spotted taking a casual stroll outside TTC subway station

Toronto's proximity to vast ravines, green spaces, and parks means we often encounter wildlife species in the most unusual places. 

This time, a wild turkey was spotted taking a casual stroll outside of Chester subway station on Monday around 7 p.m. post-rush hour traffic. 

"I was waiting for my girlfriend at Chester station after another TTC technical problem," said blogTO reader Fabrizio Palumbo. "All of a sudden in the parking lot in front of the station I noticed this wild turkey roosting undisturbed." 

The video shared with blogTO shows a couple of commuters surrounding the turkey as it calmly wanders through the parking lot. 

A wild Turkey was spotted outside Chester subway station on Monday - 🎥 Fabrizio Palumbo #Toronto #Turkey pic.twitter.com/9Kb5AdLeeK

— blogTO (@blogTO) May 2, 2023

One person in the video is heard saying that they called 311, and Palumbo also contacted a nearby farm to see if they were missing any turkeys. However, staff at the farm denied that the animal came from there.

"This is yet another example of wildlife claiming ownership of these territories and we, human beings believing that we are the absolute masters, should understand that these unusual encounters are part of our reality, and for this reason, we all must make an effort to protect any wildlife species," he explained. 

Palumbo told blogTO that a woman followed the turkey around the block and made sure that it stayed safe after calling 311. 

This isn't the first time the species has been spotted casually frolicking through Toronto streets. Another wild turkey was also filmed outside City Hall last week, and one turkey was even spotted waiting for a ride in a Mississauga bus shelter a few months ago. 

Just last month, a beaver was also spotted walking down Bloor Street West just east of High Park.