“We are lucky…”; PETA ‘Warns’ About ‘Wild Turkey’ After Butterball Controversy; Here’s everything you need to know about them

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is in no mood to let bygones be bygones. A non-governmental organization (NGO) that works to end animal cruelty and protect animal rights has been quite active in the past few weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, raising awareness against animal cruelty for the sake of the holiday.
When PETA’s undercover social media accounts resurfaced days before Thanksgiving, revealing disturbing stories of turkeys being sexually assaulted and brutalized at Butterball’s Ozark, Arkansas facility. turkey the manufacturer, Butterball, faced quite a backlash. The restored video is incriminating Butterball employees of a company that engages in sexual violence, and it caused an uproar on the Internet.
PETA did not stop there. An animal rights and cruelty-free NGO has urged people to think about their “choices” during the celebrations. Sharing and cover art from the account with the user ID “freebison,” where a bunch of turkeys sit around a table and a roasted human-shaped body takes center stage on the dinner table, PETA wrote: “We’re lucky turkeys would never do this to us — and neither are you.” should not do this to them.”
PETA also provided context for the post, which reads that turkeys are actually omnivores and, if grown, can potentially harm humans.
Now, the information remains true, as wild turkeys are large, distinctive birds that are active during the day and will eat “just about anything they can fit in their mouths.” Read on to learn more.

Wild turkey:

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a mountain game bird native to North America, one of the two extant turkey species and the heaviest member of the Galliformes order. It is the ancestor of the domestic turkey (M. g. domesticus), which was originally derived from a southern Mexican subspecies of the wild turkey (not related to the eyed turkey).
An adult male (tom or turkey) usually weighs 5 to 11 kg (11 to 24 lb) and measures 100 to 125 cm (39 to 49 in) in length. The adult female (hen) is usually much smaller at 2.5–5.4 kg (5.5–11.9 lb) and is 76–95 cm (30–37 in) long. According to studies, the average weight of adult males is 7.6 kg (17 lb) and the average weight of adult females is 4.26 kg (9.4 lb). Considering its maximum and average weight, it is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world.

What do they eat?

Wild turkeys are opportunistic foragers and can eat a variety of leaves, grass, seeds, berries, insects, worms, snails, frogs and small reptiles. This allows them to thrive in a variety of natural habitats. Turkeys are omnivores and eat a variety of foods, including plants, insects and small animals:
Plants: Turkeys eat leaves, buds, seeds, fruits, nuts, acorns and grains.
Insects: Turkeys eat insects such as spiders, centipedes, millipedes, snails and slugs.
Small animals: Turkeys eat small animals such as salamanders, frogs and small reptiles.
Seasonal changes: The diet of turkeys varies depending on the season:
Spring: Turkeys will eat almost any plant, including grass shoots, sedges, and flowers.
Spring and summer: Turkeys eat foods high in protein, such as insects, spiders, and snails.
Late summer: Turkeys eat grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, as well as fruits and seeds.
fall: Turkeys eat nuts and fruit crops such as acorns, beech nuts and cherries.
Winter: Turkeys eat nuts, seeds, grains and insects.

Are they aggressive or dangerous?

Wild turkeys in cities and suburbs were considered by some to be nuisances, pests, unpleasant, destructive and aggressive. In such an environment, the presence of turkeys can anger those who do not want them around. As urban and suburban turkey populations grew, conflicts between humans and turkeys increased. Turkeys can cause congestion and congestion when crossing streets. They can pollute sidewalks, paths, roofs, gardens, terraces, driveways, parks and other public places with their droppings. Toms can become aggressive during the breeding season, occasionally attacking and threatening people, as well as damaging cars, “attacking” their reflection or jumping on cars. Their incessant foraging can destroy gardens, flower beds, new landscaping and even lawns.
Although turkeys are generally not dangerous, they can become aggressive in certain situations:
Marriage period: During the breeding season, turkeys are more prone to aggressiveness.
Dominance: Turkeys can attack people they consider inferior.
Places where people feed them: Turkeys can become aggressive in places where people have fed them.
Territories with a shortage of natural forest habitats: Turkeys can become aggressive in areas with a shortage of natural forest habitat.

The Butterball Controversy:

After nearly 20 years of undercover filming revealed by the Organization for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on its social media profile, Butterball, a major turkey producer in the United States of America, faced a major backlash and boycott ahead of Thanksgiving. this year after. In the video, Butterball employees were accused of sexually abusing turkeys. Posting a graphic video on social media, PETA asked: “Was the ‘Thanksgiving turkey’ sitting in the middle of your dinner table sexually assaulted?” An anonymous PETA researcher claims to have witnessed turkeys being sexually abused by factory workers. According to the investigator, the workers “brag about bullying.” Disturbing footage also shows staff pushing and stomping on turkeys, while others brag about hitting the bird so hard its eyeballs popped out.
Commenters on the post were quick to share their concerns about the turkeys. One of them asked the vital question: “What can be done about it?”
One X user wrote: “Mmmm. I don’t know what to do with it. We have a ball of butter in the freezer right now.” Another wrote: “I’ve never been so thankful I didn’t buy a butter ball this year.” Someone else wrote: “Someone please tell me this is a lie. Butterball is the only horrible turkey we’ve ever bought’, while another person wrote: ‘Now we need a new label like the tuna…THIS TURKEY WAS NOT abused…God!’
A spokesperson for Butterball said in a statement to The Independent that they are “aware of a video that is almost 20 years old that is being re-circulated on social media”. Additionally, the spokesperson added that the video is “not relevant and does not in any way reflect” their animal welfare policy. In a statement, the spokesperson also said that animal care and welfare are central to their company, and they are committed to ethical and responsible care of their herds. The spokesperson also said that “maintaining the health and welfare of turkeys is an ongoing effort.”