The News Tribune (Lite) - Proposed release could add some gobble-gobble to Whatcom County

TheNewsTribune.com
Section: Adventure

Proposed release could add some gobble-gobble to Whatcom County

The News Tribune
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will have an informational open house May 8 to discuss a proposal to introduce wild turkeys to Whatcom County.

The public meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Acme Elementary School, 5200 Turkington Road, Acme, Whatcom County.

Representatives from the department will provide information on a proposal to release wild turkeys at a site about five to 10 miles northeast of Acme. The possible release site was determined after the department conducted a habitat evaluation of several sites in Whatcom and Skagit counties, said Mick Cope, upland game bird manager.

Since 2006, the department has been discussing the idea of establishing wild turkeys in the northern Puget Sound area with the National Wild Turkey Federation, the U.S. Forest Service, the local Nature Conservancy, the Washington Waterfowl Association and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

“We’ve selected a location that could work as a suitable release site, and we’d like to hear from others who are interested in the project,” Cope said. “Our goal is to introduce a self-sustaining turkey population that could provide recreational opportunities for hunters and wildlife viewers.”

Washington has three turkey subspecies, all of which are non-native and have been introduced within the past 45 years to provide hunting and viewing opportunities. Eastern turkeys can be found in southwestern Washington; Merriam’s turkeys live along the eastern slope of the Cascade Range and in northeastern Washington; and Rio Grande turkeys are found primarily in the southeastern corner of the state.

The success of the program attracts more than 16,000 hunters each year.

For information on wild turkey management, visit wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/management.