Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is celebrating Turkey Tuesday by shedding light on gastroliths, commonly known as gizzard stones.
According to the department, wild turkeys lack teeth. Instead, they rely on a muscular organ called the gizzard, which acts as a grinding chamber. Turkeys intentionally swallow small stones, pebbles, and grit that remain in the gizzard to help break down food.
These smooth stones function like built-in teeth, grinding seeds, acorns, and insects into smaller pieces. This process allows the turkey’s digestive system to absorb nutrients effectively. The gizzard is often overlooked but is considered one of the most fascinating parts of a turkey’s anatomy, officials said.
Many hunters save the gizzard stones from their harvests as a unique keepsake of the season. This turkey season, officials encourage hunters to examine the gizzard of their harvested birds, as they might find colorful, smooth stones that fueled the bird’s energy throughout the year.
