Merida's rescue

We shared a wild turkey’s miraculous survival story day by day on our fundraiser while raising support for her medical care. I’m saving it here on the blog so her journey and everyone who helped won’t be forgotten.

Part 1: "We Just Rescued a Turkey with an Arrow"

We just pulled off an incredible rescue.

A wild turkey had been wandering a college campus for weeks with an arrow shot completely through her chest - visible on both sides. Everyone saw her. Everyone talked about her. But yesterday, we actually did something about it.

It took six people, three hours of searching, creative use of x-pens and baseball field fencing, emergency veterinary surgery, and one very brave turkey.

She's now recovering at the Medical Center for Birds. The arrow has been removed. She's alive.

Her name is Merida, and her medical bill is $2,500.

We'll share the full incredible story of her rescue over the next few days - it reads like a thriller and has a miracle ending. But right now, we need help covering her emergency veterinary costs.

Every dollar gets us closer to giving Merida the second chance she fought so hard for.

Can you help?

Part 2: "The Arrow That Shocked a Campus"

For weeks, she wandered the college campus with an arrow piercing completely through her chest—visible on both sides. People saw her. Everyone talked about "that poor turkey with the arrow," but nobody knew what to do.

She moved around seemingly normally, but we can only imagine the pain she was enduring. An arrow. Through her chest. Just walking around, trying to survive.

That's when our friend Jess heard about her.

The moment Jess saw this beautiful wild turkey struggling with this horrific injury, she knew she couldn't just walk away. While others talked, Jess took action.

She immediately reached out to us and started making calls. An avian vet appointment was scheduled. A rescue plan was forming.

But first, we had to find her again...

We're still working toward our $2,500 goal to cover Merida's medical bills. Every donation helps this brave survivor.

Part 3: "The Hunt Begins"

Friday morning arrived. Six rescuers. One crate. Multiple x-pens. Towels, treats, and determination.

Our mission: find one injured turkey among hundreds of oak trees scattered across the sprawling campus.

We split up and began our search, walking every pathway, checking around the lake, scanning the sports fields and every open space, peering under the canopy of ancient oaks that dotted the grounds. For two hours, we combed through every corner of the campus.

Nothing.

Peter and Isabelle had to leave, but Jess, Yolanda, Aubrey, and Paul refused to give up. They had one more hour before the vet appointment we'd scheduled.

One more hour to find her.

Then, just when hope was fading, Yolanda spotted movement by the baseball field...

Your donations are making Merida's recovery possible. Still need help reaching our $2,500 goal.

Part 4: "The Breakthrough"

There she was.

By the baseball field, with two turkey friends by her side, was our girl—the arrow still protruding from her chest, though one side had broken off.

This was our chance.

Using the fence and our x-pens, the team quickly created a funnel to guide her toward the crate. The plan was working... until it wasn't.

In a flurry of wings and panic, the wrong turkey flew into the crate. Suddenly, all three birds were airborne, soaring over the fence and into the baseball field.

This wasn't going according to plan—but it might have been exactly what we needed. Once inside the baseball field's fenced perimeter, she couldn't easily escape.

Then the rescue team spotted it: the dugout at the field's edge—a small, fully enclosed space with a roof overhead. Working together, they carefully corralled her into this contained area where escape was impossible.

Finally, after patient maneuvering, they guided her safely into the crate.

Success! After hours of searching and delicate coordination, she was secure.

Jess loaded the crate into her car and raced toward the Medical Center for Birds, where the veterinarian was waiting.

But what would the scans reveal? Could an arrow through the chest even be survivable?

Help us cover Merida's $2,500 medical bill.

Part 5: "Against All Odds - The Miracle"

The sedation took effect, and our brave girl was finally still and peaceful as she was moved into the CT scanner.

We held our breath as the images appeared on the screen.

The vet studied the scan carefully, tracing the arrow's deadly path with a finger. "It might have hit the coracoid... it went straight by the heart and aorta... pressed up against the lung... missed the stomach and GI..." Each pause felt like an eternity as we waited to learn Merida's fate.

Then the vet looked up and said words that gave us chills:

"Wow. The arrow is touching a lot of important things but doesn't appear to have hit any of them. Let's pull it."

Slowly, carefully, the arrow was removed. Clean. Complete. No fiberglass fragments left behind.

She had survived weeks with an arrow through her chest, missing every vital organ by millimeters. It was nothing short of miraculous.

As Jess left the clinic, our rescued turkey was waking up from sedation, arrow-free for the first time in weeks. She'll stay for observation over the weekend on antibiotics, pain medication, and fluids.

We named her Merida—after the Disney princess from the movie Brave, who was also skilled with a bow and arrow, and who overcame her own challenges with courage.

Merida chose to survive. To keep fighting. To trust us enough to let us help her.

Now we need your help to give her the second chance she's fought so hard for.

We're still working toward our $2,500 goal to cover her medical expenses. Every dollar brings us closer to fully funding her miraculous rescue and recovery.

Can you help us help Merida finish her journey to healing?

Part 6: "Coming Home"

Yesterday was the day we'd all been waiting for: Merida came home! 🏠

After spending the weekend at the Medical Center for Birds, our brave turkey was discharged Tuesday morning. The wound where the arrow pierced through her chest is looking amazing! It's scabbed over nicely and appears quite healthy.

Her appetite wasn't quite back to normal. She'd been eating some, but not a lot. We could tell she was anxious being away from her flock, which was totally understandable. Although the vet would have liked to keep her on antibiotics for one more week, we decided it would be best for her overall health to reunite her with her friends as soon as possible.

So yesterday afternoon, Jess picked her up and brought her back to the campus where we first found her. She spotted Merida's turkey friends and released her nearby.

Her reaction to seeing her flock again was absolutely priceless!!! 🦃💕 So many happy chirps!! (Sound up 🔊 on the video!)

What made the moment even more special was the little crowd that gathered to witness Merida's homecoming. Volunteers Ricardo (who told us about Merida in the first place), Jenica (a student and Hyphae club President), and Nadia joined Jess for the release. It's incredible how this campus has rallied around one brave turkey!

Even Steve, one of the maintenance workers, came over when he saw our group. He told us he'd been trying to help Merida for months, calling everyone he could think of (but nobody could help) and even trying to trap her himself without success. The relief and joy on his face when he saw her arrow-free and reunited with her friends was beautiful to witness.

Merida is now back where she belongs, surrounded by her turkey family, healing in the place she calls home. From arrow through the chest to happy chirps with her flock. This is what miracles look like.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible. Your donations, shares, and support gave Merida her second chance. We're still working toward our $2,500 goal to cover her medical expenses, but seeing her joy today reminds us why every dollar was worth it.

Merida's story shows what happens when a community refuses to look the other way. Thank you for being part of her miracle.

Merida is free, healthy, and home. Mission accomplished. ✨