The North American wild turkey comeback is one of the greatest conservation success stories. So much so that the wild turkey and its subspecies are now found in 49 out of 50 states, excluding Alaska. One state in particular, South Dakota, has popped up on our radar due to a recent series of events leading to one of the more interesting turkey stories of the year.
South Dakota’s Turkey Comeback
South Dakota’s turkey restoration and reintroduction efforts created two populations of wild turkeys. East of the Missouri River, hunters will find the eastern subspecies, while west of the Missouri River, they will find the Merriam’s subspecies. The Merriam’s population arose from reintroduction efforts stemming back as early as 1948, consisting of birds from Colorado and New Mexico. Today, the Merriam’s subspecies is thriving throughout the western portion of South Dakota, particularly in the Black Hills.
Sightseeing Bonuses
Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore is one of the nation’s greatest historical monuments. The monument features four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson. It’s a sight tourists from all across the country come to see, and one that a group of tourists recently spotted more than they could have ever expected.
The group of tourists headed to Mount Rushmore for an aerial helicopter tour of the monument. The plan was to head out early to watch the sun rise over the monument from the sky. Prior to take off, one individual couldn’t help but notice the distinct gobble of a turkey off in the distance. As the sun rose, and the group set out on the tour, they were greeted by the four presidents and not just one turkey, but a whole flock. Their images capture the first known sighting of wild turkeys roosting atop Mount Rushmore.
Brenden, one of the tourists who captured this moment, sat down with Split Reed to recount the morning. “I remember sitting on the helicopter pad and hearing a distinct gobble off in the distance,” he said. “I didn’t think much of it at the time, as it would be the first time any of us had seen the monument, or flown in a helicopter for that matter. When we finally had enough light to see, I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. There was a whole group of wild turkeys, beating their wings and getting ready to fly down from the president’s heads.”
The turkeys Brenden saw were a Merriam’s subspecies bird, which makes sense given their love for mountainous terrain and stronghold in the region. It’s believed this population of birds likely came from the initial reintroductions from Colorado. These birds were captured in the Rockies and likely found a home in the similar habitats of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore.
Finding Your Own Mount Rushmore Tom
This incredible capture was no small feat. Since the monument’s creation in 1941, this is the first documented case of turkeys roosting atop the monument—a fitting place for Benjamin Franklin’s favorite bird. We don’t know when or if these birds will replicate this behavior again. If you want a chance to see this for yourself, spring turkey season is picking up, and birds are starting to gobble, chase hens, and end up in weird places. Head up to Mount Rushmore, and you may just find one for yourself this April Fool’s!