A wild turkey is hanging around a Mississauga neighbourhood, sitting on cars and generally making itself at home.
The turkey has been spotted in the Hillcrest Avenue and Parkerhill Road area of Cooksville, resident Freeda Ricardo told INsauga.com.
Ricardo photographed the bird standing on top of a parked car and roaming around the neighbourhood.
“He’s protecting us from car theft,” Ricardo said, jokingly, in an email.
She said community members saw the wild turkey in the neighbourhood a few months ago and it recently returned. They have seen the bird frequently in the last few weeks.
A community member photographed the bird sitting on her bench, and casually hanging out on a deck.
A City of Mississauga spokesperson said Animal Services received three reports of wild turkey sightings in the Hillcrest Avenue and Confederation Parkway area in April 2026.
“No concerning or aggressive behaviour was reported at that time,” the spokesperson said in an email to INsauga.com.
Wild turkeys have been in the city for many years. Some residents may remember the turkey which famously chased a Canada Post worker on the job in the Lorne Park area in early 2019. Sadly, that bird, named Clarke, died in a collision in March 2019.
In 2023, a wild turkey was photographed in a bus shelter at Meadowvale Boulevard and Syntex Drive in Mississauga.
The eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) was an important component of the biodiversity of the pre-settlement forests of southern Ontario, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. But the bird had disappeared by 1909 due to unregulated hunting and the loss of native forests that were cleared for agriculture.
In the 1980s, approximately 4,400 wild turkeys were released at 275 sites across Ontario as part of a provincial release program.
By 2007, the provincial population was estimated at over 70,000 birds and growing.
Like most wildlife, wild turkeys can become food-conditioned when intentionally fed by people, the City of Mississauga spokesperson said.
“Over time, they may learn to associate humans with food, which can lead to bolder behaviour as they seek out additional feeding opportunities,” the spokesperson added. “Residents are reminded not to feed wildlife and to minimize other potential food sources, including overflowing garbage, unprotected vegetable gardens, spilled birdseed, and fallen fruit.”
If residents encounter a wild turkey, they should:
Remain calm and do not run away
Make themselves appear larger
Keep pets on a leash
Animal Services prioritizes responses to reports involving sick, injured, orphaned, deceased or aggressive animals, as well as situations where an animal may pose a risk to public safety.
As the turkey in Cooksville doesn’t appear to be sick or pose a risk to public safety, Animal Services will not intervene unless circumstances change, the spokesperson added.
Community members wondered if tall grass at a property under development at 189 Dundas St. may be attracting the turkey. Ricardo also noted an increase in ticks.
The city spokesperson said a notice has been issued for the property owner to cut the grass.
Additional information on wild birds and wildlife feeding is available on the city’s website here.
Community photos and video supplied by Freeda Ricardo
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