Wanderers of Vermont Fields and Forests

Overview

Turkeys are a common sight in fields and forests throughout Vermont. They are known for being iconic symbols associated with Thanksgiving, their distinctive gobbling calls, and the males' mating dance. Turkeys are capable of flying up to 55 mph, though they prefer to run on the ground. At night, they roost in trees for protection from predators.

Conservation

By the mid 1800s, Wild Turkeys had been completely wiped out from Vermont due to unregulated hunting and extensive deforestation. Nearly a century later, a few turkeys were captured from New York and released back into the wild in Vermont. The population has since increased and they now thrive throughout the state.

Wild Turkey chick