Wild turkey in Haldimand: what you need to know

Some of us hunt em, some of us eat em, and some of us admire em, but what do we really know about wild turkeys?

The Sachem asked Chantal Theijn, founder of Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge, for information about this fowl creature.

Let's talk turkey history.

Wild turkeys were once wiped out in the area due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. They were reintroduced in Ontario in 1986-87. At that time, 4,400 turkeys where released at 275 different sites across the province. The first regulated hunt took place in 1987. The wild turkeys did an amazing job of coming back and now there are more than 70,000 in Ontario. With the turkey hunt now regulated, the stability of the wild turkey population is much greater.

What are the feeding habits of wild turkeys?

Turkeys are omnivorous. They eat berries, seeds and insects. They can often be seen foraging in the late afternoon or early mornings in large groups. Turkeys in turn proved to be an important food source. With the return of the wild turkey, we have seen the return of golden eagles in Ontario. Golden eagles will hunt wild turkey in the winter.

Do wild turkeys have any curious attributes?

Wild turkeys are polygamous and male turkeys (toms) have a flock of female turkeys, also referred to as a harem. Turkeys are heavy bodied birds, but they are still capable of flight. They often roost high up in trees.

Why do wild turkeys look so different than domestic ones?

Domestic turkeys have been bred for rapid growth, to maximize feed conversion and to maximize meat growth in certain body parts over many generations and years. It takes wild turkeys several years to mature. There are heritage breeds of domestic turkey, like the bronze turkey, that resemble wild turkeys and also take a lot longer to mature.

How does one tell the difference between a male and female?

The males are larger and darker, though in bright sunlight, their feathers are bronze or iridescent. The males also have larger, showier wattles, a large fan tail and a beard on their chest. The females are smaller and better camouflaged.

Where do turkeys nest, and how do they grow?

Turkeys are ground nesters. Turkey chicks are precocious, meaning that they can run around and forage fairly shortly after hatching. A young male turkey is often referred to as a Jake" and a young female is called a Jenny." Turkeys hatch large clutches of eggs because the little ones are easy prey.