The steps are cautious while the details are being tended to, but the possibility of having a significant number of wild turkeys flitting around southern Saskatchewan is closing in on reality.
Garry Leslie, a dedicated member of the Estevan Wildlife Federation, proposed the introduction of these big birds a few years ago and now the wheels are in motion to make the dream a reality.
Leslie said his quest to have these wild birds officially become a part of the southern and central Saskatchewan landscape, under the auspices of the Saskatchewan and Estevan Wildlife Federation, began five years ago.
A major step in the process is the completion of a necessary risk assessment survey and study. The study comes with a cost of about $11,000 and to that end, Leslie and the EWF found two willing corporate sponsors in the form of Enbridge and Peterson Construction to help cover that cost.
"There are already several populations of wild turkeys in the province, with the majority having immigrated from Montana into the Cypress Hills area," said Leslie. There are also a few wild turkeys to be found in and around Roche Percee due to some private introductions of the bird, as well as a few of the birds immigrating from North Dakota.
Leslie and the EWF are proposing a "trap and transfer" process that has worked well in other Canadian jurisdictions.
Several years ago, Ontario began a re-introduction process with help from the state of Maine that supplied the adult wild turkeys for their program and that was a huge success because the birds quickly established a breeding population for that province. Then, about 12 years ago, Manitoba approached Ontario's Environment Department about a trap and transfer project that could be implemented between these two provinces. An agreement was reached and, again, the introduction program was a big success, with Manitoba now boasting of a thriving breeding population of wild turkeys.
Leslie feels it is now Saskatchewan's turn to introduce sustainable breeding populations of turkeys.
"This is the template I have proposed to the Ministry of the Environment of Saskatchewan. Manitoba has expressed interest in helping with our program, as well as several biologists with the Ministry. The local landowners in the proposed area of release have been contacted and are all in agreement to allow the release on their land. In fact, most are excited about the prospect of this program happening in their back yards," Leslie said.
It's first things first though. To follow the correct procedure the wild turkeys that are already here need to be protected by law. That has now been accomplished. It is no longer legal to hunt or kill wild turkeys in Saskatchewan.
"The program of introduction is already an expensive one," said Leslie, who added that hunting and killing the already sparse population would only set the project back.
Upon consultation with two independent biologist/ornithologists and government representatives, it was determined that a comprehensive risk assessment had to be completed prior to the formulation of any more plans to bring the birds into this province. Environmental Systems Assessment Canada Ltd., a company headquartered in Pilot Butte, has been commissioned to perform this task with the expected costs to be around $11,000. That cost structure led to the ensuing donations from the two local corporations.
Once the study is completed within the next few weeks, the final draft will be presented to the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation as well as the Environment Ministry for their stamps of approval, if the study provides the expected results.
"At that point, we may be able to start relocating (introducing) birds," said Leslie.
