Angry birds: Wild turkeys ruffle feathers in N.J. towns

(CBS News) HAINESPORT, N.J. - With months to go until Thanksgiving and hunting season a distant memory, turkeys are taking over some towns in south New Jersey.

Part-time farmer Kevin Reed always liked turkey - at least on his plate. They're taking a bit out of the profits at his Springfield Township roadside stand. He says they peck a hole in each one of his tomatoes, making it so that he can't sell them. "I have a refrigerator full of tomatoes at home, because I can't sell them."

There are roughly between 22,000 and 23,000 wild turkeys in New Jersey, according to the Department of Environmental protection.

The flock of turkeys in the neighboring town of Hainesport have made turkeys a town meeting topic. Officials approved an ordinance Tuesday to fine anyone caught feeding these birds up to $2,000.

"We're looking not to get rid of turkeys altogether," Mayor Anthony Porto said. "But simply to put a ban on feeding the wild turkeys so that our residents don't have to worry about being chased by turkeys."

Seth Doane

Seth Doane is an award-winning CBS News correspondent based in Rome, Italy since 2016. Doane has covered terrorist attacks and breaking news across Europe, traveled with Pope Francis as part of his coverage of the Vatican, and has reported on issues ranging from migration to climate change.