Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve kicks off education program

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Mackenzie Free

Wattle, caruncle, snood!  Characters in a Dr. Seuss book?  Though quite amusing to say, and quite like the nonsensical words used in the works of children’s author Theodore Geisel, these are real words that describe features of a gobbler, a tom, or a hen or simply a turkey.

The wattle is that flap of skin under the turkey’s chin, while the caruncle are fleshy bumps on the turkey’s head and throat.  The snood is the fleshy flap that hangs just above the turkey’s beak.

Fun facts about turkeys kept the attention of dozens of young people and their parents at the Youth Turkey Call Expo, held at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville to kick off its education program.  The Preserve opened in March, and the education component will be a key focus.

The goal was to get kids outdoors and learning about the sport of wild turkey hunting, an activity they can do now with adults and continue to enjoy into adulthood. They learned about turkey behavior, their habitats, turkey calling and about habitat management.

For full story, check it out at Discover The Essence of St. Clair Magazine online here.