The old joke may reference chickens, but North Aurora has worked out a way to help a wild turkey cross the road.
For some months, North Aurora has been home to a wild turkey that many have seen crossing Randall Road near its intersection with Mooseheart Road/Orchard Road.
During a meeting of the North Aurora Village Board earlier this month, Village President Mark Gaffino felt it was time to try and protect the bird.
“I brought up having a sign posted in the area and thought the way things are in the world today, it’s a fun sort of thing to do,” Gaffino said. “We installed the sign about a week later. The turkey has been around for about eight months. I asked the board about having the sign and there weren’t any issues, so we had it put up.”
He said in a way the sign is in keeping with others in the area.
“There are other signs around everywhere about deer crossing or what have you, so I just thought it would be fun,” he said.
North Aurora Public Works Director Brian Richter confirmed that the sign was installed barely a week after Gaffino made the request, thanks to being able to fast track having the custom sign made at a local shop in North Aurora.
The cost of the sign was $272, Richter said.
A Facebook group out of North Aurora has christened the wild female turkey “Randi” in honor of the road where she has been largely spotted, including multiple times by Richter.
“I’ve seen her out there crossing the road. Some people believe she’s been around the area a couple of years and maybe moved toward the intersection this past year,” Richter said. “I’ve seen her dodge cars and it’s amazing how she’s moved to avoid them.”
The sign itself has been placed on the east side of northbound Randall Road near the intersection with Mooseheart Road/Orchard Road, Gaffino said.
“We only have one leg of that corner that’s the village’s, so we had to put it in on our side,” Gaffino said, noting the other parts of the intersection are controlled by Kane County.
Gaffino said that some in the village have thought about relocating the wild turkey to a less busy area.
“In the end, it’s a wild turkey and I’m not sure what’s drawn her here,” he said.
Richter said the sign will be up as long as it is relevant.
“If she moves or isn’t lucky we would leave the sign up to be sure no turkeys are in the area,” he said. “Once it’s been determined there are none in the area, we’ll likely take it down and save it for reuse if another one shows up.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.