‘Historic hunting opportunities’: Southern Alberta ranchers welcome B.C. problem turkeys

Alberta ranchers are gobbling up the opportunity to rehome almost 200 displaced wild turkeys that were becoming a nuisance in B.C. resort towns.

Some Southern Alberta ranchers are welcoming some familiar fowl back to their properties.

“Thirty years ago we had turkeys here,” said Tom, a rancher in a southwest region of the province. “Then about five to 10 years ago — they disappeared,” added his wife Monica.

The couple has made their home in the Alberta foothills for more than fifty years. Global News isn’t providing their last name in an effort to help protect the location of the coveted new company that arrived on their land in January.

Wild turkeys aren’t native to Alberta or B.C., but populations have recently been thriving in some eastern B.C. resort towns like Radium and Invermere. For many residents there, they’ve become unwelcome, messy guests.

“If those turkeys decide to live on your lot and maybe roost in the tree right behind or right in front of your house — they’re a real problem,” said Doug Manzer, a senior scientist and wildlife program manager with the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA).

Since January, the ACA has translocated 178 problem turkeys from urban areas in B.C. into rural areas of Alberta.

The program is going ahead thanks to cooperation from landowners like Tom and Monica and tens of thousands of dollars from fish and game clubs in Alberta.

Wild turkeys are not only a delicacy but also a prized game bird.