Wild Turkeys
The first time a wild turkey explodes out of the bushes beside a trail...
...it can take years off your life.
They're huge, surprisingly fast, and startlingly loud when they take flight.
Despite looking like they belong in the age of dinosaurs, Wild Turkeys are one of Ontario's greatest conservation success stories. By the early 1900s, they had disappeared from the province. Thanks to decades of restoration efforts, they're once again a familiar sight around places like Ashby Lake.
Wild turkeys can fly at speeds of over 80 km/h-just not for very long. They spend most of their time walking through the forest looking for seeds, insects, berries, and acorns.
Next time you're at the lake...
If you hear an enormous burst of wings from the forest floor, don't panic.
Take a breath.
You probably just startled a turkey...
...and it was probably just as surprised as you were.