Where did all the wild turkeys come from? The origin story of Cape Cod's big bird

You have probably been irked by turkeys. Specifically, the wild ones that stroll around Cape Cod like they own the place. You'll be happily driving along a back road, only to be stopped short by a pecking poultry posse that doesn't give a dang about danger. They might even make you nervous about walking to the mailbox!

Heck, the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife reports that "Turkeys may attempt to dominate or attack people that they view as subordinates." Who needs that?

One might assume that this sense of wattled entitlement can only come from centuries of roaming the Cape like feathered conquistadors. But the current golden age of gobblers has only been going on for a few decades. So we're going to carve up the intriguing history of wild turkeys on Cape Cod, with a side dish of tips on how to deal with birds that might get up in your grill. Here we go!

Were wild turkeys on Cape Cod hundreds of years ago?

In his history of Plimoth Plantation, early European settler and longtime governor of Plymouth Colony, William Bradford (1590-1657), writes of a "great store of wild Turkies" when discussing harvest time in the area. But in subsequent years, the population of wild turkeys in the state would dwindle.

According to the state fish and wildlife agency, "Before European colonization of the Americas, the wild turkey was widespread in Massachusetts. Due to habitat loss, turkeys were extirpated from the state, and the last known native bird was killed in 1851."

How did wild turkeys return to Cape Cod?

The quick answer is wild turkeys washed ashore, like many folks on Cape Cod. But they had a little help from state biologists, who trapped turkeys in New York and released them in Massachusetts.

According to a Cape Cod National Seashore draft environmental impact statement, 18 birds were released at Camp Edwards in 1989, and 28 birds were released in 1995-1996 in the vicinity of the Seashore in Wellfleet.

Those pioneer turkeys got busy doing what wild turkeys do: nibbling nuts, berries and insects. Roosting, roaming and establishing their status in turkey society (yup, a "pecking order"). And, most important, pumping out those surprisingly cute baby turkeys, to keep the whole turkey circus going.

During the early days of turkey reintroduction, it was pretty rare to run into one on the Cape. Mark Faherty, science coordinator at Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, did bird surveys in the Seashore from 2001 to 2003. "Wild turkeys were uncommon," he told the Cape Cod Times in 2021. "Every once in a while, I would hear a gobble in the distance."

These days, wild turkey sightings are common on the Cape. While it may be tricky to figure out how many wild turkeys currently live on Cape Cod, state wildlife officials estimate the state population at somewhere between 30,000 and 35,000 birds.

What should I do if wild turkeys become aggressive?

First off, never feed wild turkeys, according to the state agency. This can lead to aggressive behavior. Keep the areas around your bird feeders clean. According to the state, "Wild turkeys that become accustomed to humans and human-associated foods, like bird seed, are likely to lose their fear of people and can cause damage or attempt to dominate people."

If turkey deterrence becomes necessary, here's what the state recommends: "Don’t hesitate to scare or threaten a bold, aggressive turkey with loud noises, swatting with a broom or water sprayed from a hose. A dog on a leash is also an effective deterrent."

Eric Williams writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X: @capecast.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod wild turkeys: Where they all came from and deterrence tips