The Eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) is the most widely distributed, abundant and hunted wild turkey subspecies in the United States. Since the eastern wild turkey ranges the farthest north, individuals can also grow to be among the largest of any of the subspecies.
It inhabits roughly the eastern half of the country. It's found in hardwood and mixed forests from New England, southern Canada and northern Florida in the east to Texas, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota in the west. It has also been successfully transplanted in states outside of its orginal range including: California, Oregon and Washington.
Most North American kids learn turkey identification early, by tracing outlines of their hands to make Thanksgiving cards. These big, spectacular birds are an increasingly common sight the rest of the year, too, as flocks stride around woods and clearings like miniature dinosaurs. Courting males puff themselves into feathery balls and fill the air with exuberant gobbling. The Wild Turkey’s popularity at the table led to a drastic decline in numbers, but they have recovered and now occur in every state except Alaska.
The Griggstown Geotrail project is an exciting partnership between Franklin Township and The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC.org who have partnered and volunteered their time, expertise and assistance and help develop and implement this geotrail.
The Griggstown Geotrail caches are placed with approval by Franklin Township, no new caches will be allowed at their Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve property without first obtaining written permission by Franklin Township.
The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC is about promoting a quality caching experience in Northern New Jersey. For information on The Northern New Jersey Cachers group you can visit: www.nnjc.org.
NNJC.ORG