Press Release
By White Oak Conservation
11-26-22
  Bird of the Month With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we thought we’d share some fun facts about the wild version of the domestic bird we’ve all come to associate with the holiday. We are fortunate enough to see wild turkeys here at White Oak, especially around this time of year as the young birds begin to move around. Found only in North America, there are five subspecies of Meleagris gallopavo: eastern, Florida, Rio Grande, Merriam’s, and Gould. Here in northeast Florida, we see the eastern wild turkey. Did you also know: Young male turkeys are called jakes. Adult males are toms, young females are jennies, and adult females are hens. Wild turkeys can weigh up to 20 lbs. However, that doesn’t stop them from reaching speeds of up to 25 mph with their powerful legs. Wild turkeys were nearly extinct by the 1930s, but effective conservation work helped them recover, and now there are more than 7 million with the population continuing to increase. Ironically, June is National Turkey Month. Want to learn more about the bird that almost became our nation’s symbol if Benjamin Franklin could have had his way? Our friends at USFW have compiled some interesting facts that you can share with your dinner guests. Check them out! Fun Turkey Facts.   Bobbing for … Pumpkins?Every fall, we find ourselves with a few pumpkins that have been retired from the job of ‘decorations,’ and we recycle them as tiger toys. Even though our tigers are carnivores and don’t eat plants, or pumpkins, they are still ‘cats’ and can’t resist the temptation of playing with them. And tearing them apart. You know, like cats. We aren’t sure who is more entertained; us or the tigers.      From all of us here at White Oak,   DONATE 581705 White Oak Road, Yulee, FL 32097 l 904-225-3396 l www.whiteoakwildlife.org |
| White Oak | 581705 White Oak Road, Yulee, FL 32097 |
