Canada: Wild turkey populations are expanding in numbers and range in Okanagan

Wild turkeys are odd looking creatures with long legs and bald heads, often described as looking like dinosaurs or vultures. They roam in big flocks in the Kootenays and are becoming more prevalent in the Okanagan. A conservation coordinator with the BC Wildlife Federation said populations of the big birds are growing in both areas and are expected to expand their range. “They’re expanding as animals tend to do and will continue to spread north in the Kootenays,” Steve Hamilton said. “Hunters are helping to control their numbers to an extent, and they are heavily predated on by many other animals. I don’t see the populations exploding yet.” The birds have been a growing problem in the Kootenays for several decades with residents reporting the birds are a nuisance. “They’re 20-pound birds in big flocks, they can take a part a garden and flowers beds pretty easily,” he said. “When I was (in Castlegar) they were everywhere on the highway and roads and up in trees it was crazy. ...