Officials are puzzled how the bird got to the barrier island resort.
Wild turkeys are commonplace on the mainland. State statistics show the population has almost doubled in the past 10 years. The birds were reintroduced to the state in 1977.
But no one can ever remember a turkey calling Sea Isle City home.
The hen has been exploring backyards in the resort, which is fairly quiet in the offseason.
Officials fear the wild turnkey will have a hard time surviving when the summer tourism season kicks into gear in two months.
