South Jersey community mourning loss of beloved wild turkey named ‘Fred’
By 6abc Digital Staff
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DEPTFORD TWP., New Jersey (WPVI) — The community in Deptford Township is mourning the loss of a beloved neighborhood character: a wild turkey known affectionately as Fred.
Fred became a streetside celebrity for his habit of patrolling neighborhoods, keeping watch over traffic, and occasionally chasing down passersby.
In a 2024 interview, resident Kim Chiocchi told Action News that Fred often stopped by for breakfast along Caulfield Avenue. She said peanuts were his favorite, along with bird seed.
Deptford police announced Fred’s passing in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Residents who knew him shared their condolences online, remembering the turkey who never ducked from attention.
“Awww, we’re definitely going to miss him and all his hard work keeping all the traffic in line,” wrote Suzanne Behm.
“He only pecked my car a few times. RIP Fred,” added Danielle Willms.
Police said that despite the frequent calls he generated, Fred had earned a special place in their hearts.
“Truth be told, Fred was a bit of a handful. We probably received 100+ calls about him. But he was our handful, and we loved him,” the department wrote.
The department even honored Fred with a song – a fitting tribute to the turkey who always kept life in Deptford exciting.
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