© Capi Lynn/Statesman Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
(East Islip, NY) – Well, gobble, gobble, Long Island. Tom turkey is back in Suffolk County. More specifically, the wild turkey population seems to have returned.
There are reports stating packs of turkeys have been seen in spots, particularly in East Islip. Back in the 1800s they were commonly spotted throughout Long Island. They haven’t been seen in those numbers for years. Now, the Department of Environmental Conservation says wild turkeys have been roaming the streets in packs of 30, 40, even up to 100.
Some wildlife experts previously thought Long Island’s wild turkey population was in fact extinct. The current estimate puts their population at around 3,000. Wild turkeys eat buts, berries, grasses, grains, and roots. They also snack on insects like worms, snails, grasshoppers, and beetles. A major plus is that they also eat ticks, who have caused problems in spots on Long Island. That said, wild turkeys are sometimes aggressive around humans — and have been known to attack sometimes — especially during breeding season — from February, through early June.
