Reader Photo of the Day: Wounded Wild Turkey

The photo above landed in our email inbox Sunday, along with this note:

Hello - Attached is a photo of a wild turkey that has recently taken up residence in our back yard.  S(he) has had an arrow lodged in the left thigh for the past two weeks.  We presume some thoughtless local brat did the deed.  S(he) hops around on the foot, not putting any pressure on the right.  When we approach too closely it flies up to the roof.

We would like to find some way to save this bird. Perhaps you could publicize the bird's plight and that might lead to a solution.

Thank you for being there!

Jim & Terry Fritzsche

We talked by phone Monday with Terry, who lives with her husband near the . She said wild turkeys often roam the neighborhood; she once counted nine in her yard before they skedaddled.

But this one showed up injured and hasn't left. The couple called the City of Elk Grove's Animal Services, she said, but were told they would have to capture the bird and bring it in before an officer could help remove the arrow from its leg.

"I don't know how to trap a turkey," said Terry, who also worries that the bird she now considers a pet would end up euthanized. She's taken to leaving bird feed out for the turkey, and named it Albert after her deceased father (also a wounded veteran). Since it came into her life, she said, she can't bring herself to buy poultry at the grocery store.

She just wants someone to come take care of the bird's wound. Then, "It can live here forever or until it feels strong enough to fly away."

So there you have it, readers. Any advice for this turkey-loving duo? Let us know in the comments.