Endangered Bird: Turducken Shortage Felt During Holiday Season

The Holidays just won’t be the same in Luling without Turducken.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, much attention has been paid to the destruction of homes, businesses, and other man-made elements. But natural destruction—particularly that of animal habitats—is taking its toll on the region as well.

Many Louisianans face the grim prospect of spending this holiday without Turducken, due to the destruction of the rare bird’s habitats and the enormous demand that comes with the season.

For Gaston Dupuis’ family, the bird is a Thanksgiving tradition.

“We don’t know what we’re going do,” Dupuis said, standing in front of the tool shed in converted into a smokehouse on his property. “Turducken’s what we eat here for Thanksgiving. We don’t know nothing else.”

In fact, the men of the Dupuis family have hunted their own Turducken each November for generations.

“Oh, it’s most definitely a right of passage in these parts,” he said.

Experts and environmentalists agree that there will be few of the large, turkey-like birds available this holiday season. The few that remain are considered precious.

“If folks eat the ones that are left, we don’t know what future holidays will look like,” said Wayne Tucks, spokesman for Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries.

“Our wardens are going to strictly enforce permits and bag limits, and we’ll be checking those Turducken blinds for extra birds, that’s for sure.”

But some environmentalists warn that might not be enough. Environmental groups are asking that the Turducken be placed on Louisiana’s endangered list, along with 24 other species like the piping plover, black-capped vireo, and the Ninth Ward Pigeon.

“Basically, we’re asking people to abstain this holiday,” said Garmin Jennings of the Louisiana chapter of the National Wildlife Foundation. “There are so few birds left, and so few people understand the complex relationship between the species and the amount of habitat Katrina washed away.”

“We want these beautiful animals to be around for future generations,” he said.

Gamin’s group is actually proposing an Audobon-esque postage stamp that might help raise funds and awareness to save the Turducken.

In the meantime, Dupuis and his family are weighing a difficult decision.

“Well, there’s plenty of Nutria, I guess, ” he joked as he put on his camouflage LSU hunting cap.

“But it’s hard. They just so dern good.”