The man in the car told the police that the turkeys are becoming a nuisance in the area, and he was concerned about children’s safety, Middletown Police Capt. David Leonard said.

"There appears to be an abundance of wild turkeys at this development," Leonard said of the nearby Wapping Road housing development.

The police have contacted the state Department of Environmental Management and animal control to devise a plan to minimize contact with the turkeys, or to relocate or capture the animals.

Leonard said that male turkeys are often aggressive birds, and while this is the only reported incident of an attack in Middletown, they are not uncommon.

Residents should contact the police or animal control should an incident occur.

"The important thing is not to antagonize them, and just walk away," he said.

-- Journal Staff Writer Kia Hayes