Tweets:

I don't mean to start a problem where none yet exists, but I
wonder what reactions you all have to this bit of hearsay.

We were on Decatur Island a couple of weekends ago visiting one of
my wife's coworkers, and he showed us the young "wild" turkeys his
neighbors got by mail order. Reportedly the neighbor hopes the flock will
learn to forage and establish itself on the island so it can be a game
animal. At present the turkeys seem reluctant to even leave the
neighbor's yard, and can regularly be found roosting on or near a chicken
coop on the property.
I know that "wild" turkeys are established on some of the other
islands, and I am unaware of environmental disasters associated with
these populations, but I have to wonder whether it is wise or legal to
introduce non-natives onto an island (or anywhere else). My first thought
was, "do they need to file an environmental impact statement to do this?"
I am actually more concerned that it seems so easy to do something like
this than I am worried about the impact of turkeys on an island which is
being carved up for vacation homes.
Is there any kind of Fish and Wildlife (or other) policy
regulating this type of introduction?

Thanks for any info.

Paul Talbert
paul at muller.fhcrc.org

P.S. the turkeys are sorta cute and rather impressive looking down from
the Douglas-fir branches. Skinny, too. These aren't Butterballs (yet).