The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) is appealing to the public for assistance in identifying two individuals suspected of illegally releasing around 25 turkeys at the Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area on April 9, 2024. The area is located approximately 110 miles north of Las Vegas along the Great Basin Highway.
Game wardens responded to reports from staff who discovered more than two dozen turkeys at the south end of Nesbit Lake within the management area. A witness reported seeing a white truck with a crew cab towing a horse trailer in that direction.
During their investigation, wardens obtained security footage from a local convenience store showing the truck and trailer stopping for gas before heading north on U.S. Route 93 at 1 p.m. The video revealed a large dent on the passenger side door but failed to provide a clear view of the license plate or suspects. Authorities suspect the individuals are from Clark County as they traveled from and returned to the south.
“Our hope is that someone might have seen or heard something or might recognize the vehicle from the photo. Any information could be key to this investigation,” said Game Warden Lieutenant John Anderson. He encouraged anyone with potential information to contact NDOW.
Individuals can reach NDOW through their Operation Game Thief hotline or by using the NDOW Tip app, which allows citizens to submit anonymous tips, photos, or videos.
Shawn Espinosa, Game Division Administrator, highlighted potential risks associated with releasing animals into the wild. “The birds released were likely either domestic turkeys or wild turkeys that have been fed by humans and habituated,” he stated, emphasizing concerns about disease transmission and survival challenges for these birds.
Espinosa explained that domesticated or habituated turkeys lack survival skills needed in the wild due to being pen-raised and fed by humans, making them vulnerable to predators and environmental factors.
