CHESTERTOWN, MD (KTRK) -- Maddy Eckel has raised her pet turkey, Scout, from the time he was a hatchling. By breed, Scout was only expected to live eight months -- but he turned out to be exceptional.
Scout once roamed the farm with chickens, ducks and hens, but the family of fowls in rural Maryland now has one fewer member.
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Without warning, Scout disappeared earlier this week.
A friend's tracking dog followed Scout's scent about a half mile into the woods, but eventually lost the trail.
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Eckel says she believes in her gut that somebody took Scout; she points out several feathers on the ground that appear to be evidence of a struggle.
"My gut tells me someone stole him because of the holiday. I don't have a lot of good faith that he might still be alive," she told ABC affiliate WMAR-TV.