Wyoming lifts ban on Narragansett turkeys

This morning I called the WY governors office and spoke with Steve Ferrell. Mr. Ferrell is the Policy Advisor to the governor but prior to his appointment was head of WY Game and Fish. Before that he was deputy director of AZ Game and Fish. He wanted to know if Narragansett turkeys were white like domestic turkeys. I informed him no and used this "teachable moment" to tell him about the many color variations in heritage turkeys. He then asked if they looked like Eastern, Merraims, or Rio Grande turkeys, I again replied that they didn't and explained they have a unique color pattern with grey instead of bronze in the patterning. Mr. Ferrell told me that he would contact WY Game and Fish and within an hour Mark Nelson of WY Game and Fish called me. He listened to my spiel (pretty much what I have below) and said that he would have his "turkey specialist" look into it. They will get back to me with their decision. If I disagree with their decision than I can take this to the WY Game and Fish Commissioners meeting and present my side in January. This meeting is in Cheyenne, WY which is convenient for me as I live nearby. I offered to send him the information I have (including the letter to Jim that he posted, he said he hadn't seen it yet) for him to read and to forward to whomever his "turkey specialist" is and he gave me his e-mail. I pointed out that the timing of this, the week before Thanksgiving, makes this an interesting news article.





Both men were very nice over the phone and I felt I was actually listened to. They obviously have MUCH better political skills than the people we have been dealing with up to now.



I DON'T think we are out of the woods yet, but we are finally moving. Please continue to send letters to the WY Game and Fish and the Governors office in support of this issue.

The Wyoming Livestock Board and the University of Wyoming, Cooperative Extension Servive/4H is also on board. The Livestock Board is contacting the Department of agriculture (a different agency) and requesting their assistance. So we need to keep on this. If we allow this ban to stay, they will be in your state next!​

JimsFarmStand wrote: The Wyoming Livestock Board and the University of Wyoming, Cooperative Extension Servive/4H is also on board. The Livestock Board is contacting the Department of agriculture (a different agency) and requesting their assistance. So we need to keep on this. If we allow this ban to stay, they will be in your state next!

I'm going to take the sympathetic view that the `they' are merely ignorant.
I'll lay good money on the geneticists in the University of Missouri Ag. College having the wings on those pigs before any of those `they' do any more, in this State, than lose their hunting licenses and pay the fines for mistaking someone's Narragansetts for Wild Easterns.

Glad to hear there is a willingness to learn out there.​

Ambassador David Jacobson,

United States Ambassador to Canada,

The Embassy of the United States of America,

490 Sussex Drive,

Ottawa, Ontario



Dear Ambassador Jacobson,




It has been brought to my attention that it is considered illegal to either own or import into the State of Wyoming Narragansett turkeys. Apparently, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department classify this Heritage breed of turkey as a wild turkey, not a domestic one. By doing so, this takes away the management of the Narragansett turkey from the United States Department of Agriculture under which management of domestic breeds of turkeys currently falls and is accepted as such in all other States of the Union.




To better understand what is at issue here, please allow me to present the following information:




The history of the Narragansett turkey goes back to the 1600's when domestic black turkeys were brought to the American colonies by European settlers. Through years and years of successive selective breeding programs, originally crossing these black European turkeys with North American wild turkeys, the Narragansett was developed. It was the foundation breed of the New England turkey industry and soon became valued throughout North America and even back in Europe. The Narragansett, as a unique breed of turkey, was recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1874 as one of the original turkey breeds and it is the oldest turkey breed to be developed on the North American continent.




For the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, to rewrite history as they see fit, shows not only their disrespect for the proud history of this American bird, which by the way, one of your Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, proposed as your National Bird in place of the Bald Eagle, but it also shows a scientific ignorance which one would not expect from a State Game and Fish department.





The Exhibition Turkey Fanciers, an international organization of which I am a member, have received a letter from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department that categorically states that Narragansett turkeys are not morphologically or behaviorally different from wild turkeys and is thus their basis for their erroneous policy (a photo of said letter is attached). In reality, it is a scientifically stated fact that the Narragansett turkey is phenotypically, genotypically and behaviorally different from any wild turkey breed. The Genotype of the Narragansett turkey is sex-linked (b+b+ngng for toms and b+b+ng- for hens). Phenotypically, the Narragansett differs from North American wild varieties in that its beak is horn colored, its head is red to bluish white and its beard is black. The shanks and feet are salmon colored (additional photos and information can be found at: http://www.porterturkeys.com/narragansett.htm ). Furthermore, the Narragansett has been used in the development of other turkey types and is closely linked to the commercial broad breasted breeds so important to today's industry.




In conclusion, Mr. Ambassador, I would like to quote from a letter Dr. Tom Famula, a highly respected Geneticist at the University of California, Davis, sent to a fellow member of the Exhibition Turkey Fanciers:




"... As the instructor for Animal Science I for over 20 years, it would be a grave mistake on my part to not include Narragansett as a domesticated animal. Taken right from our class website, and from papers by Professor Price, the definition of a domesticated animal is:




A Domestic Animal is one that is bred in captivity for purposes of economic profit to a human community that maintains mastery over breeding, territory and food supply.




If these birds do not qualify under that definition, then what does? Though the exact date of domestication may be uncertain, it is easy to classify these noble, American birds as anything but wild. In fact, Google eBooks has been kind enough to provide an on-line copy of the American Standard of Perfection from 1905. And right on pages 254 and 255 there is the description of the Narragansett. As you well know, non-domesticated birds are not in that book; the book is for poultry and poultry only (remembering that poultry are domesticated birds).

Just having to write this note, brief as it may be, has me question why would anyone think otherwise. Though the Narragansett does not have the distinguished reputation of the Bronze when it comes to Thanksgiving imagery, the Narragansett remains anything but just another bird. If only we had a pilgrim to chat with..."



Mr. Ambassador, it is my sincere hope that you will convey through the appropriate diplomatic channels to both the Government of the State of Wyoming and the United States Department of Agriculture the need to clarify, once and for all, the classification of the Narragansett turkey and under which jurisdiction management thereof falls. Small family farmers are currently caught in the confusion caused by this Wyoming Game and Fish policy and, what is most important to myself as a Canadian Citizen and a member of the international group, Rare Heritage Turkeys - a discussion group on raising, preserving, and breeding Rare and/or Heritage Breeds of turkeys - is that this policy, if kept as is, would be detrimental to the saving of one of America's oldest breeds of poultry, a breed currently listed as "Threatened" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. (http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/wtchlist.html#turkeys)



Mr. Ambassador, I wish you and yours an early "Happy (American) Thanksgiving".



Sincerely,

Cameron McNamee

Deux-Montagnes, QC.

J7R 4C9

(email removed by Jim)​

Mrs. X,

Thanks for the information; we'll review and get back with shortly. The link for our chapter 10 regulation is http://gf.state.wy.us/admin/regulations/pdf/ch10-Nov2010.pdf



Specifically look at the definition of domestic turkey in Section 4 (k)

"Domestic animals" means those populations of animals which through long association with humans have been bred to a degree which has resulted in genetic changes affecting the color, temperament and conformation, or other attributes of the species to an extent that makes them unique and distinguishable from wild individuals of their species. For the purpose of this regulation, only the following animals are considered domestic:.....domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) distinguished morphologically from wild turkeys.



In Section 4 (v), "Hybrid" means an animal produced by crossing species or subspecies.



The definition of "wildlife" (qq): "Wildlife" means every wild mammal, bird, fish, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, their viable gametes (eggs and sperm), fertilized eggs, or any hybrid (including hybrids between wildlife and wildlife and hybrids between wildlife and domestic or domesticated animals) or any transgenic product thereof.



In section 5 (c) (ii) we state that a permit shall not be issued for importation or possession of a wild turkey. Since the Narragansett turkey is a hybrid, it is "wildlife", and thus a wild turkey, leading to out denial of importation.



Feel free to call with questions.



-Mark

--


Mark Nelson

Project Coordinator

Wyoming Game & Fish Department
5400 Bishop Blvd
Cheyenne, WY 82006
307-777-4501 - Work
Note email address: [email protected]​

Merriam's Wild Turkey

The Merriam's wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) is found primarily in the ponderosa pine, western mountain regions of the United States. It was named by Dr. E.W. Nelson in 1900 in honor of C. Hart Merriam, the first chief of the U.S. Biological Survey.

Within its suspected historic range in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, the Merriam's was relatively isolated from the other subspecies of wild turkey. Current evidence supports the hypothesis that it was a relative newcomer to western American wildlife when the Europeans discovered it.

The Merriam's wild turkey has been successfully stocked beyond its suspected natural range in the Rocky Mountains and outside of the mountains into Nebraska, Washington, California, Oregon and other areas.

Merriam's are found in some habitat areas that, if altered by timber harvesting overgrazing or development, populations may be lost. Their normal range receives annual rainfall amounts averaging between 15 and 23 inches.

Adult males are clearly distinguished from the eastern, Florida and Rio Grande by the nearly white feathers on the lower back and tail feather margins. Merriam's closely resemble the Gould's turkey, but its tail margin is not usually quite as pure white nor is the lighter margin of the tail tip quite as wide.

Its size is comparable to the eastern turkey, but has a blacker appearance with blue, purple and bronze reflections. The Merriam's appears to have a white rump due to its pinkish, buff or whitish tail coverts and tips. These tail feather tips are very conspicuous when the strutting gobbler appears against a dark background. The males exhibit black-tipped breast feathers, while the females, or hens, have buff-tipped breast feathers. The white areas on her wings are more extensive giving a whiter appearance to the folded wing.

The adult male normally weighs from 11–24 pounds and the adult female is typically much smaller at 5.5–12 lb. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merriam's_Turkey



The Rio Grande Wild Turkey http://www.nwtf.org/conservation/bulletins/bulletin_3_9-9-09.pdf

If the Wyoming Game and Fish department thinks this turkey looks like their wild turkeys, there better go back outside and look at their wild turkeys. Frank