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

Published 2024년 4월 3일

Tridge summary

Wild turkeys, increasingly seen in British Columbia's Kootenays and Okanagan regions, are expanding their range, especially northward in the Kootenays. Introduced over a century ago in the Kootenays and about two decades ago in Lake Country for hunting, these birds, often considered a nuisance due to garden damage and highway presence, are not deemed invasive or harmful to native species. They provide organic meat for humans and wildlife, with hunting regulations in place and proposals to extend the spring hunting season to manage their growing populations and minimize private land conflicts.

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Original content

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. ...

Source: Infotel