Irshadgul News report,
Some southern Alberta ranchers are welcoming some familiar birds back to their properties.
“Thirty years ago we used to have turkeys here,” said Tom, a rancher in the southwest region of the province. “Then about five to 10 years ago — they disappeared,” said his wife, Monica.
The couple has made their home in the Alberta foothills for more than fifty years. Global News is not providing his last name in an effort to help secure the location of the prestigious new company coming to its lands in January.
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Wild turkeys rise to stardom in small New Brunswick town
Wild turkeys are not native to Alberta or BC, but populations have recently been thriving in some eastern BC resort towns such as Radium and Invermere. For many of the residents there, they have become unwanted, unsavory guests.
Doug Manzer, a senior scientist and wildlife program manager for the Alberta Conservation Association, said, “If those turkeys decide to stay at your place and maybe perch on a tree right behind or right in front of your house — they’re a real problem.” ” (ACA).
Since January, the ACA has translocated 178 problem turkeys from urban areas in BC to rural areas in Alberta.
The program is driven forward by the support of landowners like Tom and Monica, and thousands of dollars from fish and game clubs in Alberta.
The wild turkey is not only a delicacy but also a prized game bird.
In Alberta, there are no restrictions or permits required to release wild turkeys. The province’s recent management plan for wild turkeys expresses interest in re-establishing turkey populations, which provide “historic hunting opportunities”.
The report notes that “Similar hunting opportunities in Alberta that have a limited geographic scope (e.g. the Suffield Elk Hunt) and bring hunters from across the province have shown financial expenditures by hunters in excess of $1000, A large portion of which is spent in the local community.”
The province said it may adjust its policies around turkeys in the future if they become a nuisance, something Tom and Monica echoed.
“We have never been in a position where we are outnumbered by Turkey. Sometimes we find them in the grassy yard,” Monica said. “I think if we get a lot of[the birds]we’ll be welcoming hunters!”
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