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Southern NJ Police Shoot Wild Turkey 'Wreaking Havoc' On Traffic

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Police in southern New Jersey shot and killed a wild turkey that authorities said was "wreaking havoc" on traffic.

Stafford Township animal control officer Michael Melchionne told The Press of Atlantic City the bird has been in the township for months.

However, it recently moved from residential areas to busy Route 72.

Efforts to trap it were unsuccessful.

Police Lt. Thomas Dellane told the newspaper the turkey caused a motor vehicle accident when a car jammed on its brakes and was rear ended by another on Wednesday.

The turkey was shot by a police officer in the woods.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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