READING, Mass. -- A wild turkey caused some chaos for commuters on Route 128 in Reading Thursday morning.

NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that drivers did their best to dodge the bird.

Sometimes the bird behaved himself by walking in the grass along the road, but other times the bird walked right into the travel lanes of busy Route 128.

"We are just trying to avoid anybody getting hurt in traffic because people are locking up their brakes because he jumps up in front of them. We are continuing to try to force this animal into the woods. We have had problems in the last few days with wild turkeys walking out onto the highways. It is dangerous because people do not expect it," Massachusetts State Police Maj. Kevin Kelley said.

Biologists said mating season is bringing the birds out of their normal habitat, and sometimes, into harm's way. A shrinking habitat is also making wild turkey-related incidents more common.

"We are seeing them right now because we are entering the mating season, and the birds are moving father and getting involved in eth mating season rituals," said wildlife biologist Jim Cardoza.

Since the birds were reintroduced to the state in the 1970s, the population as grown to about 20,000.

State police advised motorists to give the bird the right of way, because a collision could result in injury or vehicle damage.