Zoo Buddy: Wild Turkeys!
General Curator Lisa Taylor says there are about four million turkeys in North America.
MONROE, La. (KNOE) - We have an all-too-familiar face in North Louisiana today! This week, we’re highlighting wild turkeys at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo in Monroe.
General Curator Lisa Taylor says there are about four million turkeys in North America.
She says they’re the largest gamebird in North America.
“In this species, we’re looking at four to five thousand feathers on a bird,” says Taylor. “The male turkeys have some pretty plumage. They are in the pheasant family, so they like to puff their feathers out and strut around to try to get the females and the females are these drab colors.”
But they need those darker hues for safety!
“Turkeys actually make a drumming sound, not to mention all this gobbling, it’s almost like a hiss, and they’re beating kind of like a drum when they’re walking around trying to attract these females,” says Taylor.
That sound comes from air pockets under their skin.
She says their eyesight is about four times better than a human’s.
“These guys can run about 25 miles an hour, and in a short burst, they can go 55 mph.”
But, that’s only a short amount of space! They can’t fly for long periods of time, they’re too heavy.
Wild turkeys breed once per year.
Taylor says the females will watch over the babies after they hatch.
While construction continues on the new Louisiana Purchase Exhibit, the Reptile Building is closed.
Until then, you can request some reptiles at educational programs or birthday parties, or you might just see one at the zoo when staff are taking them on a stroll.
Call 318-329-2400 for more information.
Due to weather delays, construction crews believe the new exhibit will be open sometime in the spring of 2026.
You can also volunteer with the zoo. Contact the Louisiana Purchase Zoological Society through their Facebook page.
The zoo is open every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can get tickets to feed the budgies, feed the tortoises, ride the boat, or ride the train at the front office.
Click here for a breakdown of their prices.
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