Turkey - Conservation and Management
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Video: 'Livin' the Wildlife' Colorado Wild Turkeys
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'Livin' the Wildlife' Colorado Wild Turkeys
The wild turkey is beloved among hunters and wildlife enthusiasts alike. The wild turkey's springtime mating displays are one of the most exciting and stunning events in nature. Yet, these iconic birds only exist today because of dedicated conservation programs. This video provides an overview of the wild turkey's mating behavior and Colorado Parks and Wildlife's long-standing efforts to conserve this amazing species. The video features both Rio Grande turkeys, which were introduced to Colorado in the 1980s, and the native Merriam's turkeys.
A Conservation Success Story
Turkey populations were once decimated due to poaching and habitat destruction. In fact, during the period of the Great Depression, only 30,000 of them existed on the continent! However, thanks to successful conservation efforts by a variety of groups, the United States is now home to over seven million wild turkeys.
Why Are Wild Turkeys Important?
The turkey is a species that is deeply rooted in American tradition and symbolism, and one that faced an uncertain future in the 1900s. The successful reintroduction of the bird to Colorado, and the collaboration between partners including various sportspeople groups and state and federal governments, is emblematic of the importance and success of CPW’s conservation efforts.
Young hunter harvest turkey.
Hunter prepares for turkey hunt with decoy.
What Are Some Of The Things CPW Is Doing?
CPW and its partners launched an aggressive reintroduction program in the 1980s and since then Colorado's turkey population has surged to more than 35,000. The abundant birds are now found in the majority of Colorado counties.
Colorado has two subspecies of wild turkeys: The native Merriam's, which are found in the foothills and mountain meadows west of I-25, and the Rio Grande, which were introduced to riparian corridors on the Eastern Plains. The reintroduction of wild turkeys in Colorado has proven so successful that CPW has increased hunting licenses to help manage turkey populations in areas where the birds have become overabundant.