Most Americans are familiar with the iconic national symbol, the turkey – but have you seen baby Wild Turkeys before? They're a very unusual patient to receive at RWS, and their rescue story was just as perplexing. Three teeny poults arrived in late June after a community member found them while hiking in rural Virginia They stumbled upon the three chicks alone, with no mother in sight. At roughly 2 weeks old, the baby turkeys should be with their mother constantly since they cannot fly and lack the ability to thermoregulate or waterproof their feathers. Their rescuer searched high and low within a half-mile radius for any signs of their mother or another flock, but sadly, the babies appeared to be truly orphaned. The good news is that they have been doing wonderfully at RWS. Feasting on a daily buffet of species-appropriate foods, including tons of mealworms, the poults have grown considerably and have just moved outdoors to one of our release-conditioning enclosures. Caring for high-stress species like turkeys is a specialty of ours at RWS. Our peaceful, forested property in the rural foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains means our patients enjoy a level of privacy that's unusual among wildlife centers across the country.
We're so grateful to supporters like you who understand the intrinsic value of all of these animals and help us get them back to the wild where they belong. Our work is only possible because of you! Thank you.
