Wild turkeys overrun New York neighborhood

NEW YORK, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Residents of New York City's Staten Island say a neighborhood has been overrun with wild turkeys that cause noise disturbances and leave messes.

Barbara Laing, who lives in Staten Island's Dongan Hills neighborhood, said the birds that have lived for 15 years on the the campus of South Beach Psychiatric Center are spreading out in the area and about 60 of the birds have been hanging around a maple tree on her property, WCBS-TV, New York, reported Thursday.

"They live in this tree," she said. "They sleep in it. And they poop all night."

Laing said the wild turkeys also pose a noise-related nuisance with their constant fighting.

Officials had 25 turkeys relocated to an upstate animal sanctuary, and residents including Mary Jane Froese said they would like to see more of the birds receive the same treatment.

"It's not cute no more," she said. "I mean, I don't want to see them harmed. I would like to see them brought to a farm."