On July 15, a turkey decided to wage war on a parked car in Brighton. The scene? Cummings Road. The victim? Alicia Mastroianni’s unsuspecting vehicle. The turkey’s motive? Probably its own reflection.
The Turkey Attack
Alicia Mastroianni was just about to leave for her job at Boston Children’s Hospital. But she found something unusual on her car—a note. And her car? Covered in scratches.
“All sides of my car were messed up, like, completely scratched,” Mastroianni told WBZ-TV. “I saw the note, and I was like, ‘Oh gosh, someone hit my car.’”
But the note had a different story. A friendly neighbor had left it, explaining everything. The note read, “I just watched and recorded a massive turkey attack your car for over 15 minutes. Sorry you were the target of this turkey rage.”
Going Viral
Mastroianni sent the video to her dad. His reaction? He just laughed. Her friends, however, had a more public plan. “My friends were like, ‘No, you have to put this on TikTok,’” she said. So, she did. And the video went viral, amassing millions of views. She chose the perfect soundtrack: “The only words in it are ‘Oh no, no, no, no,’” she laughed.
Turkey Troubles in Massachusetts
Turns out, turkey attacks aren’t that rare in Massachusetts. Cambridge and Dedham have also seen these feathered fiends intimidating people and vandalizing vehicles. If you find yourself in a similar situation, call the environmental police. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has even posted advice online.
Why Turkeys Attack
Why do these birds go berserk? Massachusetts Environmental Police say it’s mostly because they see their reflection in cars. They think it’s another turkey and attack. The solution? Cover your car. And if you see a turkey, get loud and scare it away.
Thanks to the video, Mastroianni has proof of what happened. And the good news? Her insurance will cover the damage.
“Who’s going to believe that a turkey attacked your car in Boston?” she said, chuckling. “You just gotta take it with a light heart and laugh it off.”
Tips to Avoid Turkey Attacks
- Cover your car: Use a car cover to avoid reflections.
- Make noise: Clap or shout to scare turkeys away.
- Call for help: Contact environmental police if turkeys get aggressive.
- Stay calm: Remember, turkeys are more scared of you than you are of them (hopefully!).
So, if you’re in Brighton and see a turkey eyeing your car, remember Alicia’s story. And keep your phone ready.
Lauren Beckham Falcone is the co-host of Bob & LBF in the Morning. Formerly an award-winning reporter and columnist for the Boston Herald, she credits her current success as a pop culture commentator to watching too much TV as a kid and scouring the internet too much as an adult. LBF is a regular contributor to NECN and is an honorary board member at the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. Lauren lives in Canton with her husband Dave and her daughter Lucy. Lauren writes about trending topics, New England destinations, and seasonal DIY.
