- In the 1900s, the wild turkey was hunted nearly to extinction. At one point, there were no more than 30,000 birds.
- There are six subspecies of wild turkey, all native to North America. The pilgrims hunted and ate the eastern wild turkey, which still gobbles its way around America and Canada.
- An adult male weighs 16 to 22 pounds on average and the females weigh eight to 12 pounds.
- Turkeys can run at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour and fly as fast as 55 miles per hour.
- Baby turkeys eat berries, seeds, and insects, while adults feast on acorns and even small reptiles.
- Benjamin Franklin didn't propose the turkey as a symbol for America but favored it over the bald eagle.
Article by Chelsea Lyn Agro
Originally published in Missoula Valley Lifestyle