With Thanksgiving in the crosshairs, many of Illinois’ turkeys will find themselves in a similar situation. Whether you choose to hunt and bag your own bird, or opt for a store-bought one, you along with millions of Illinoisans will be overdosing on tryptophan, cranberry sauce and family.
Turkeys are plentiful in the Land of Lincoln, but it wasn’t always that way. Unregulated hunted during the 19th century led the state legislature in 1903 to outlaw wild turkey hunting, albeit a little too late. By 1910, there were none left. However, thanks to conservation and recolonization efforts over the past 50 years, the woodlands of southern Illinois are teeming with wild turkeys, and the state’s farmers produce millions each year.
Except for the baked bird that will serve as your dinner table’s centerpiece, Thanksgiving is a day for everyone to take a break from their busy lives and realize what they should be thankful for; and if you’re fortunate enough, those reasons are hopefully sitting around you. Let’s keep in mind the millions of turkeys that will have given their lives so we could celebrate this festive occasion by ballooning our bellies.
Out of respect, here are 15 interesting facts about the bird you will soon consume.
Now you can impress your friends and family with some cool turkey tidbits as you’re all chowing down on one. After all, the bird is the word. Papa-ooma-mow-mow!
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