Wild turkeys still making impressive comeback

Wild turkeys still making impressive comeback

November 15, 2001

BY THE COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

DENVER — Colorado’s wild turkeys have something to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

Once nearly wiped out in the state, wild turkeys have made an impressive comeback thanks to the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s turkey relocation program.

The Division began modern turkey transplant operations in the early 1980s. Since then, thousands of wild turkeys have been trapped and relocated to appropriate habitats around the state.

"Right now we have more wild turkeys in more places in Colorado than has ever occurred here historically," said Rick Hoffman, avian researcher for the Division. "Our success is primarily due to the trapping and transplanting operations."

Over-hunting and habitat loss nearly wiped out America’s wild turkey population by the early 1900s. Today, wild turkeys are abundant across the nation due to current transplant initiatives like the Division’s.

The division moves several groups of wild turkeys each year. Last winter, about 300 birds were relocated. Wild turkeys can now be found in 53 of the state’s 63 counties. The largest populations occur in the southwest and southeastern portions of the state, including Las Animas, Montezuma, Montrose, Dolores, Huerfano, Custer, Pueblo, Mesa and La Plata counties.

Colorado is home to two subspecies of wild turkey: the native Merriam’s and the Rio Grande, which was introduced to the state in 1980. The Merriam’s wild turkey is primarily found in open meadows and in ponderosa, oak brush and pinion juniper stands in mountainous zones west of Interstate 25. The Rio Grande species inhabit cottonwood and riparian areas adjacent to agricultural lands in the eastern portion of the state. There are an estimated 21,000 Merriam’s and 3,000 Rio Grande wild turkeys statewide.

Prior to modern transfer operations, many turkeys were bred in captivity and then released into the wild. This method proved unsuccessful because birds bred on game farms did not develop the skills necessary to survive in the wild.

"Wild birds are cunning, wary birds – capable of flying and running and escaping predators," Hoffman said. "These characteristics have been bred out of game farm birds."

Game farm birds also pose serious health threats to wild turkeys. Poor farm conditions such as confinement, overcrowding and contaminated food can increase the chance game birds will develop diseases that can be transferred to wild populations.

Although it is legal to sell and raise game farm birds, it is illegal in Colorado to release them into the wild.

"Even if it were legal to release game farm turkeys, their chances of survival in the wild are almost zero percent," Hoffman said.

The DOW discourages people from feeding wild turkeys, a practice most commonly cited in urban areas.

"Turkeys are resourceful opportunists. If there is a food source, natural or artificial, they will take advantage of it," said Hoffman. "But feeding wild turkeys makes them more prone to disease and predation." It also encourages unnaturally large populations to develop in inappropriate areas, he said.

"Soon 20 birds becomes 200, and then they are defecating in your backyard, roosting on your roof and chasing your pets," Hoffman said. Such problem birds are unsuitable for relocation because they aren’t necessarily wild anymore, he said.

The DOW plans to relocate about 200-300 birds again this year, and continues to evaluate land for possible transplant sites. New release areas under review include lands east of Castle Rock and the San Luis Valley.