Archives for 2020

Looks like we need a new thread. Fortunately, I have a fascinating link.

How Wild Turkeys Took Over New England

The turkeys’ subjugation of New England residents is a relatively recent phenomenon. Just 50 years ago, the Wild Turkey population in New England was essentially non-existent, and had been for over a century. Then, an extensive, coordinated effort to trap and transfer turkeys across state lines rejuvenated the population—a comeback lauded by wildlife biologists and agencies as a conservation triumph. “It was an all-hands-on-deck restoration effort,” says Chris Bernier, a wildlife biologist at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. “It’s a fabulous success story.” But now, with turkeys practically running the show, agencies must find a balance between celebrating the Wild Turkey revival and ensuring that human and bird get along. “We’re at opposite ends of the spectrum from where we were 50 years ago,” says wildlife biologist David Scarpitti, who leads the Turkey & Upland Game Project at MassWildlife. “It’s gone from a conservation success story to a wildlife-management situation.”

The turkeys were moved into the Berkshires from New York’s Adirondaks. And nature took over from there.

Seems like turkeys are doing well everywhere, though. My sister in Oregon thinks they are increasing there too.

Open thread!

Late Night Turkey Open ThreadPost + Comments (59)