MassWildlife: Where do turkeys gobble?

Massachusetts boasts a rich variety of habitats, each region with its own unique character. Yet despite these differences, wild turkeys can be found throughout the Commonwealth. Believe it or not, that wasn't always the case—wild turkey habitat was once so scarce that turkeys disappeared from the Commonwealth in the mid-1800s. Thanks to successful restoration efforts led by MassWildlife and partners in the 1970s, wild turkeys have made a remarkable comeback and can now be found in every county except Nantucket.

Wild turkeys are habitat generalists meaning they make use of forests, fields, and even developed areas. However, they do best in landscapes where there is a variety of habitat types, allowing them to meet their needs throughout the year. So where do turkeys gobble, peck, and rest? 

Foraging turkeys: Wild turkeys seasonally enjoy a diversity of food, including plant material, seeds, nuts, berries, insects, and invertebrates. In the fall, they often forage in mature forests with mast-producing trees such as oaks, hickory, or beech. If you are on the hunt for wild turkey, look for areas where turkeys have scratched through the leaves to find nuts and other food items on the ground.

Strutting turkeys: During mating season in the spring, male turkeys (toms) go to great lengths to attract females (hens). To show off their fitness, toms will gobble, puff their features, fan out their tails, and strut around while dragging their wings. This kind of performance requires an open stage, which could include fields, open woodlands, and forest clearings.

Sleeping turkeys: Wild turkeys are active during the day and need a safe place to catch up on some z's when the sun goes down. Turkeys fly in short bursts to roost in large trees. Roosting high off the ground keeps them safe from predators that are active at night, like coyotes and bobcats. Turkeys often select hardwood trees for roosting but may seek a more sheltered perch in hemlock trees during cold, windy nights. 

Raising turkeys: Turkeys are ground nesting birds and use a variety of different nesting habitats, including forest edges, shrubby areas, or sometimes in tall grasses in hayfields or pastures. Turkey poults (baby turkeys) can leave the nest within the first 24 hours of hatching and turkey hens rely on thick vegetation to protect their young from predators. During the summer, turkey poults favor protein-rich insects found in grasslands and other habitats, which enables the poults to grow and mature quickly.

Wild turkeys rely on a mix of forests, fields, and open areas to meet their needs throughout the year. The next time you see a wild turkey, take a moment to think about the variety of habitats that support its life and allow it to thrive across Massachusetts.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.