Wild turkeys are pretty rare in Indiana, but there are some. We've got foxes and wolves too, and a few years ago there was a big black leopard running around near Albion that must have escaped from a private owner somewhere.

But I've never heard of a flock of turkeys attacking somebody! That would be a scary experience.

I saw it myself the same day Bonar and a couple of police officers did, and I later Googled pictures of various exotic cats ... it was the spitting image of a black leopard, as Karen. Bonar agreed at the time. However, there were questions about the footprints in that incident, so it's possible she changed her mind after talking to me. After that spate of citings I started hearing from people who had sighted a similar animal in years past, but I really don't know if they're all connected or not.
It sure gave everyone something to talk about, didn't it?

The one I saw -- if it IS a black leopard -- is definitely not native to this area, and must have been released or gotten away from its owner. It's illegal to have them without all sorts of permits, which would explain why the owner didn't report it missing. (There was a white fox cavorting around Albion for a few months, several years ago. In that case it was here legally, and the owner eventually caught it again.)
But yes, there were native big cats in this area at one time, and who knows? You're right that one cat wouldn't account for all the sightings around this general area, so if they're all accurate, there has to be more than one. It's a wild thought for those of us who think humanity has tamed nature, isn't it?

I've heard the rumor too, but the authorities were keeping an eye on that place, and there were never any charges of such a thing as far as I know. He went out of business just because he ran out of money -- apparently bit off more than he could chew. What I don't know, however, is what happened to the wolves when the place closed down.

Wherever it came from, I'm glad you found your canine companion.
I thought I was the only person that utilized the canoe camp. In fact, I think there are some places in that park that I'm the only person to ever visit. Back before I got so busy, I spent most of my summers down there.

There was an old concrete house up the hill from the canoe camp that I used to love to go visit; I'd eat lunch on the roof. But, sadly, they tore it down several years ago.

I just like to breath fresh air. :-) But canoeing and walking on the trails are definitely activies that are good for the soul, as well as the body.

Maybe the turkey, like our local deer, decided it couldn't take one more Indiana winter and committed suicide by car. I get that way every fall, myself.

If they did, I either forgot or never heard about it -- both are possibilities. I prefer the Indiana turkeys to stay in the state legislature, myself.

Wouldn't make sense to waste old Tom once he was -- um -- wasted, would it?