During the early winter of 1999, several wild turkeys were seen by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Brooks near the northern part of the Hackett Hill property. Wild turkeys do not exhibit migratory behavior, so presumably these birds will be present during all seasons of the year. Currently, as a result of state restoration programs, there are 4 million of these birds throughout the country. About 15,000 wild turkeys may now be found in New Hampshire.
Wild turkeys prefer forested land and swamps, but behave like racoons and live near civilization.
In summer they eat insects and various types of plant food such as berries, grapes, grasses, grains and ferns. In winter, their food supplies become very limited. They forage for corn wastage near farms and may even seek out sunflower seeds from suburban bird feeders. Crabapples, which remain on trees throughout the winter, help the turkeys survive. Male and female turkeys are very different in appearance.