Species of the Month

October’s article written by Nick Nagtegaal, Co-Op Student - Hamilton District Christian High School

“Gobble Gobble Gobble” is a sound you might hear while outside. That is the Wild Turkey’s call. Wild Turkeys inhabit almost all the US and the southern parts of Canada. They prefer to inhabit different environments throughout the year. During the breeding season, Wild Turkeys favour open pastures, fields, areas near streams and rivers, open forests, and meadows. During the non-breeding season, they prefer open forests with mature trees where they can roost. Wild Turkeys are opportunistic feeders and will consume nuts, fruit, seeds, insects, frogs, salamanders, and crayfish. The predators of Wild Turkeys include humans, coyotes, raccoons, eagles, and great horned owls. They also face nest predators, such as opossums, birds, rodents, snakes, and foxes. Wild Turkeys have several defense mechanisms to scare off predators. The first method they employ is puffing out their feathers to appear larger, followed by making a loud call to alert other turkeys of danger. If necessary, they will take short flights to escape predators, even ascending into trees.

Wild Turkeys are permanent residents of their habitats and remain there year-round. Mating season occurs between February and June, depending on their location. A female wild turkey typically lays 10-12 eggs per brood. By 1909, Wild Turkeys had been extirpated from certain areas due to overhunting and habitat loss. In Ontario, restoration efforts were not initiated until 1984, when it was decided to relocate birds to disperse them to their native ranges. Currently, Wild Turkey populations have made a comeback and are at a healthy level, allowing for regulated hunting. Wild Turkeys use vocalizations to communicate with one another. If you ever hear a soft rolling turkey call, it indicates they are content. They also produce louder calls to warn other turkeys of danger or to inform them of their location.