Sometimes you’ll see something on Twitter that just cries out for an explanation, and this now-viral video of turkeys circling the corpse of a cat is certainly one of them.
https://twitter.com/haunterhaha/status/1174468074843492352
The video, posted by user @haunterhaha, received over 67,000 likes and lots of reactions.
https://twitter.com/Peepster3/status/1174713698751004676
‘God: ‘Welcome to eternity my son. You’ve lived a good life. If you have any questio-‘
— Neffrophelicat (@BryanNeff) September 19, 2019
Me: ‘WTF was up with the turkeys and the dead cat?!’
What in the f*%k is happening there??!!
— Ian (@Ireland2Canada) September 20, 2019
Speculation included the turkeys being a coven of witches.
https://twitter.com/GentlemanPirat2/status/1174744204418985987
These turkeys are witches y'all.
— Derrick (@Derrick99370851) September 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/rnortal/status/1174540413211828224
sure. everything. is. fine. pic.twitter.com/RrATL1wV5I
— remove the #orangeführer (@V0teTheG0Pout) September 19, 2019
After one hour of this, the cat will come back to life…but it won't be the same.https://t.co/bsyRPgLdSu
— An American Patriot (@Newsericks) September 19, 2019
Leave those witches alone
— Nicole Bad & Blerdy (@alamanecer) September 19, 2019
Or a demon summoning.
You want to summon an elder demon? That's how you get one.
— jsFALLEN (@jsFALLEN) September 20, 2019
mom can you come pick me up the turkeys are doing demon rituals
— jaclyn (@strxngerbowens) September 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/tasteslikesalt/status/1174890816323694592
they are about to proceed with the ritual sacrificing and offering the dead cat carcass to satan to bring forth demon turkey
— Dillmer Rabino (LPT) (@DilzTheLegend) September 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/Rebel_Scum483/status/1174783719741231105
Or some other sort of cultic behavior.
https://twitter.com/RogersMima/status/1174767831696596992
Did no one tell them that this kind transmutation is a taboo in the alchemist world… smh my head.
— PaladinAmber (@PaladinAmber) September 20, 2019
Turkey cult? This new season of American Horror Story has peaked my interest.
— KibethSE (@KibethSE) September 20, 2019
Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!
— Aalbert Torsius (@aalbert_torsius) September 19, 2019
A surprising number of people saw references to the Handmaid’s Tale in this video, too.
Shame shame shame
— Riato (@so_irreverent) September 19, 2019
Whose fault is it that Fluffy is dead?
Her fault. Her fault. Her fault.
Shame shame shame
Whose fault is it that Fluffy is dead?
Her fault. Her fault. Her fault.
It feels like a scene from the Handmaids Tale
— PopsBond (@jgb3270) September 19, 2019
Blessed be the fruit
— Mr.Alter (@MrAlter2) September 19, 2019
It turns out that there’s a much more mundane explanation for the ominous circle. When the video first surfaced in 2017, National Geographic ran an article explaining it, and it turns out that the turkeys are just confused as hell and trying to make sure the potential predator is actually dead.
“My guess is they are puzzled by the strange behavior of the dead or dying cat,” says Hughes, “[and wanted] to get a better look, without getting too close.” The result, he says, is a circle of turkeys—mostly females—all eyeing the potential predator’s carcass, but none of them wanting to get any closer.
Not all Twitter users are buying it, however, and remain convinced that there’s something sinister in the turkeys’ behavior.
it's a trick, call a witch hunter
— Axel 3D (Commissions are open) (@Axel3DandFoxy) September 19, 2019
Is this one of the Seals of the Apocalypse?
— Aaron (@Aaa_aa_ron) September 19, 2019
Black Mass!
— John (@JohnLeHobbit) September 19, 2019
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