GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Larry the turkey, the unofficial mascot for Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, has been strutting his stuff around town for months, and the hospital is hoping to find him a new home. Hospital officials are asking anyone specially licensed in relocating turkeys to help in their efforts.
Mary Free Bed is located in a high-traffic area central in downtown Grand Rapids. Tricia Boot, a web specialist at Mary Free Bed, said now that winter's approaching the last thing they want is for Larry to get hit by a car.
"Larry the turkey has been hanging out around our campus for the last several months, and especially for the last week he's been kind of held up in our parking structure," said Boot.
Larry's quickly becoming a local celebrity, especially around the Mary Free Bed campus. Security even made a personalized identification tag for him. Ben Risinger, with new media and community relations at Mary Free Bed, said even though Larry has become part of the family, Larry needs to find a home of his own.
However, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources told Mary Free Bed that only specially licensed individuals can handle turkeys, because they're game animals. Mary Free Bed employees now hope someone willing and able will see this message and take Larry the turkey to a new home.
"If you have room in your heart for Larry, not at the dinner table but in your heart or yard, we'd be excited," said Boot.
It's rumored Larry the turkey is bedding down in someone's backyard near Heritage Hill. The DNR is urging people not to let turkeys do this.
Anyone with a set of skills who can help is being asked to contact Mary Free Bed at 616-840-8000.
