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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Canoeist struck by turkey

Posted 9/20/17

FALL LAKE – A canoeist from the state of Virginia was driving into Ely last Wednesday from Fall Lake following a trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area when he had the surprise of his life. A …

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Canoeist struck by turkey

Posted

FALL LAKE – A canoeist from the state of Virginia was driving into Ely last Wednesday from Fall Lake following a trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area when he had the surprise of his life. A wild turkey flew into his windshield.

That was just the beginning of the excitement for John Fedorchak, who has been in the Ely area for a couple of weeks on vacation from Linden, Va.

“I was just outside of Winton last Wednesday morning when this big bird flew out of the grass and right into the windshield of my truck,” Fedorchak said. “I pulled over and figured he would just fly away. All at once, the bird spread his wings and started flapping and got caught up in the rope tie-down for the canoe.”

Fedorchak attempted to cut the rope, but every time he got close “the bird went totally nuts.” After several attempts, he cut the rope. “Then he flew into the other rope and got caught up in it again,” he said.

By this time, Paul Pengal, of Ely, stopped and offered to help. “Between the two of us we got the rope unhooked and freed the bird, which flew away. He looked unharmed,” he said.

Fedorchak plans to head home early next month after he gets a new windshield put in his truck. “The community has been so very good to me,” he said, “especially the folks at Ledge Rock Church. I will definitely be back.”