turkeys running wild across Granite State
November 1st, 2005 by Administrator
More turkeys running wild across Granite State
DERRY — Margaret Ives of Derry has been living on Beaver Lake for 32 years. Over the last decade, she said she’s noticed some new neighbors.
“I’ve seen wild turkeys around the lake,” Ives said. “It’s not one or two. It’s a whole group of them. It’s great. They’re big, strong-looking.”
Fish and Game officials say the eastern wild turkey is prospering in New Hampshire due largely to backyard bird feeders.
Ted Walski, state Fish and Game turkey project biologist, said the last two years have been especially good for the birds.
“I knew by June 1 we were having a good hatch,” he said. “They’re very cold-tolerant. I never thought I’d see wild turkey in Coos County. Now, there’s some in every town in the state.”
He estimates there are 30,000 turkeys statewide. Deep snow cuts the turkeys off from food, and that’s where backyard feeders have made a difference, Walski said.
He said turkeys eat apples, juniper berries and sunflower seeds.
That would explain why Daniel Hicks Sr., owner of Sunnycrest Farm in Londonderry, saw a group of wild turkeys on his property for the first time this year.
“This summer, there must have been 20 to 25 turkey right down back of my house,” he said. “I’ve never seen them up here before. One would go astray, walk through the property, but that’s about it.”