COMMANDA – The wild turkeys are here. That fact is recognized by local hunters as well as the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).
There is, however, some disagreement as to whether they're supposed to be here, and whether to judge by century-old data or current observations.
“The MNR has an opportunity if they would just change their ideas about that,” said Roy Warriner.
An avid conservationist and member of the Commanda and Area Anglers and Hunters, Warriner has a keen interest in habitat enhancement for many local species, but he has a particular interest in wild turkeys. Hunted out of existence in Ontario over a century ago, turkeys have been re-introduced over the past 25 years, mainly in southern Ontario. The program has been so successful that hunting seasons have begun in a number of areas, including one in which turkeys had never been released.
Warriner has discussed this with the MNR, with the idea of providing food plots and other habitat enhancements for turkeys, and possibly releasing some in Almaguin as well. He was told that wild turkeys wouldn't survive here.
“Everybody except the MNR is accepting that these things are here and need looking after,” he said.
Warriner points to the MNR's own wild turkey data, comparing maps of the historical wild turkey range with a current map of breeding grounds. According to the ministry, wild turkeys inhabit the “mixed wood ecozone.” The boundary is a line running from Belleville to Penetanguishene and across the middle of the Bruce Peninsula.
The map of present-day breeding grounds tells an entirely different story, however. Wild turkeys are living and breeding as far north as Sundridge and all the way to the Quebec border.
“People have seen them farther north than that,” said Warriner.
Warriner questions whether anyone today can know for sure where turkeys were found in centuries past. But even if the information is correct, something must have changed. Warriner suggests that it is the climate, pointing to deer, opossums, cardinals and other species that have been on the move northward. The present-day reality is that turkeys are expanding naturally into Northern Ontario.
“They're here, they're reproducing and they're growing,” said Warriner, who believes the MNR should be staying ahead of the trend. “Catching up is not the way to do things.”
Farther south, populations have grown to the point that turkeys have begun to bother farmers in some areas. Warriner said that in Markdale, for example, farmers are allowed to shoot turkeys feeding at their silage piles as pests.
“I take offence at that,” he said, suggesting that turkeys could be trapped live and transferred north.
Having studied weather records, Warriner noted that Powassan typically has less snow cover than Markdale, and would be at least as good a home for the birds.
If any doubt remains, Warriner points to the flock in Noelville. Released as an experiment a few years ago, a flock of 49 birds has grown to hundreds. More impressive is that many of the original 49 were killed by human error, having been handled improperly and fitted with restrictive tracking collars. Still more were wiped out by predators and a particularly hard winter, leaving about a dozen birds.
“A population that small has grown that much in an area they were not supposed to survive in in the first place,” said Warriner, noting that the population is not only growing but spreading out as well.
Warriner believes that concerned individuals should be calling the ministry and their MPPs about acknowledging the presence of wild turkeys in Northern Ontario. He also suggested that a real registry is needed for turkey sightings, and is willing to keep records if people call him.
But while convincing the government to get on board, there is still much that the ordinary citizen can do. One simple thing is to plant food plots in the bush. This has the added benefit of encouraging turkeys to stay away from inhabited areas and out of farmers' crops. Warriner distributes 100 bags of seed corn each year to people and organizations for planting in the bush.
Aside from the good it will do for the turkeys, this will benefit both hunters and people who just want to enjoy wildlife. As a replacement for the spring bear hunt, an annual turkey hunt could someday provide considerable financial and social benefits. In all of his studies, Warriner has seen no evidence of any harm to other species caused by turkeys.
Most importantly, it will be a gift to future generations, who will need opportunities to connect with nature. Warriner recalls hunting turkeys down south, accompanied by his grandson. He taught the boy to call a turkey, and remembers the smile on his grandson's face when a turkey actually came.
“There's an eight or nine-year-old who had an opportunity to get out in the bush instead of going to the computer or the TV,” he said. “We need to give kids that opportunity.”
For those who want to learn more about wild turkeys, Chris Patty, regional director of the National Wild Turkey Federation, will make a presentation at the Trout Creek fire hall on April 2, starting at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
A turkey-calling fun night is planned at the Powassan legion on April 18, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Anyone wishing to report a wild turkey sighting can call Roy Warriner at 705-723-1810.
Editorial
