Did you know that turkeys not only gobble, they also cluck and purr?

And, in addition to flying, wild turkeys can even swim when they need to!

Thanks to collaborative conservation, those incredible birds are thriving across Michigan.

In the early 1900s, overhunting and habitat loss nearly wiped out the state’s population, but the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and partners including the National Wild Turkey Federation worked together to reintroduce wild turkeys to the state and restore habitat they needed to flourish.

Michigan’s oak-savannah habitats are of particular importance. Those lightly forested grasslands with abundant oak trees provide turkeys with acorns to eat and habitat to build their nests at the base of trees, under shrub or in the tall grass. Oak-savannah habitats also support the nesting needs of migratory birds, such as the blue-winged warbler and eastern towhee.

In addition to forests, Michigan’s wild turkey population can be found in fields, wetlands and urban and suburban parks.

The resurgence of wild turkeys is a conservation success story and a reminder of the impact that partnerships can have in protecting wildlife. Ongoing support and awareness of habitat conservation are essential to maintaining this progress.

Michiganders can help by volunteering with the DNR on public lands stewardship efforts, establishing food plots on their property, or participating in community science initiatives like turkey population monitoring each summer.

While it might seem counterintuitive, regulated hunting of wild turkeys also supports their conservation and management. Hunting license fees and excise taxes on hunting equipment support the DNR’s Wildlife Division. A portion of turkey hunting license fees also goes into the DNR’s “turkey fund,” which is used for habitat management on public lands to conserve populations and critical habitat.

Turkey hunting season will open in the spring and fall of 2025.

MI Birds is a public outreach and engagement program presented by Audubon Great Lakes and the DNR that works to build and bring together wildlife enthusiasts across the state to engage with and conserve Michigan’s birds and public lands.

Questions? Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.