Free Republic

In honor of Thanksgiving – and the constant stream of complaints wildlife officials get about the wild version of our holiday meal – this little item will be all about how to avoid the big birds from pecking at your heels this holiday season. The good news is that wild turkeys have made a stunning comeback after being wiped out in the state by the mid-1800s from hunting and loss of habitat. Today, there are about 20,000-25,000 birds in Massachusetts. The bad news is that the wild turkeys have moved into Brookline, Newton and other suburbs where they are gaining...

It is a stirring sight that has awed Wisconsinites for six years now: an ultralight aircraft aloft in the fading sunlight, leading endangered whooping cranes from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge on their maiden migration south. News that 17 of the 18 birds from the 2006 migration have died at their winter habitat in Florida has devastated conservationists and the volunteers who raised them. But they said Saturday that the loss reinforces their commitment to re-establishing one of the world's most endangered species. "This is such a heartbreak . . . such a loss. The news of this brought us...