Wild Turkey Halts Traffic in Staten Island Crosswalk Standoff with Bus

The bird confidently walked into a crosswalk, forcing an MTA bus to come to a full stop in a brief confrontation.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A wild turkey brought an MTA bus to a standstill in Staten Island after the bird confidently walked into a crosswalk, initiating a head-to-head standoff with the vehicle. The adult turkey showed little urgency to move, holding up traffic for a short period of time before eventually continuing on its way unfazed. While unusual for other boroughs, wild turkeys have been a fixture in Staten Island's landscape for decades, frequently slowing traffic and creating commuting hazards.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the growing presence of wild turkeys in Staten Island, which have become a polarizing part of the borough's landscape over the past few decades. Efforts to manage and relocate the turkey population have seen mixed results, as the birds continue to disrupt traffic and raise concerns about public safety.

The details

According to the report, the encounter occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 19, near the corner of Victory Boulevard and Forest Avenue. Bus #8256 came to a full stop as the wild turkey planted itself squarely on the painted crosswalk lines, initiating a head-to-head standoff with the bus. At one point, the turkey appeared to examine a poster mounted just above the bus's front bumper advertising the Museum of Sex in Manhattan, before eventually continuing on its way without injury or further disruption from onlookers.

  • The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

The players

MTA Bus #8256

A New York City MTA bus that was forced to come to a full stop due to the wild turkey in the crosswalk.

Wild Turkey

An adult wild turkey that confidently walked into a crosswalk in Staten Island, forcing an MTA bus to come to a standstill.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges that Staten Island faces with its growing wild turkey population, which has become a unique and polarizing part of the borough's landscape. While some see the turkeys as a nuisance, their presence continues to disrupt traffic and raise concerns about public safety, underscoring the need for effective management strategies to address this issue.