It all began with a wobbly little poult found alone near some railroad tracks. On June 2nd, a caring member of the public brought the tiny wild turkey to our Wildlife Rehabilitation Center after noticing it struggling to stay steady. Our team quickly discovered the young turkey had a concussion, but after some dedicated care, it made a full recovery. However, poults, especially this young, need to be with a flock to thrive.

Just two days later, the perfect companions arrived—a group of six more wild turkey poults, all about the same age, arrived at our clinic. Sadly, they were orphans, likely on their own for a while. Malnourished and weak, they were in desperate need of care. Our rehabbers jumped into action, and after just a week, these little guys were gaining weight, getting stronger, and beginning to show signs of healthy development!

Then, on June 20th, another group of five poults found their way to us. Rescued from the center median of Banksville Road, these little ones were also orphaned, dehydrated, and weak. But with the expert care of our rehab team, they, too, began to recover and thrive.

At first, the two groups were kept in separate enclosures. But once everyone was healthy and strong, they were introduced to each other in our outdoor pen—joined by their two unlikely foster mothers: a pair of chickens! These two hens are playing a crucial role in teaching the poults essential life skills. It may sound a bit funny, but it’s a common practice in wildlife rehabilitation, and it works wonders in preparing young birds for life in the wild.

Together, the turkeys and their foster chickens are learning to forage, scratch, jump, and even take small flights. They spend their days searching for natural grubs, basking in the sun, and enjoying dust baths—just as they would in the wild.

Did you know that adult wild turkeys can have up to 6,000 feathers? These beautiful birds were once threatened with extinction in the early 20th century, but thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, wild turkey populations have made an incredible comeback. Now, they’re thriving again in the wild, and we’re excited to help return this little flock to where they belong.

We’re working closely with the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Wild Turkey Biologist to ensure these poults find the right flock and environment to join.

UPDATE: A Happy Ending for Our Turkey Flock!

We’re thrilled to share that these 12 wild turkeys have fully recovered and successfully released back into their natural habitat. After weeks of care and preparation at HARP’s Wildlife Center, they’re now back in the wild where they belong, ready to thrive once more! It’s been an incredible journey watching them grow, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make this release possible.