The wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, is an iconic North American bird that once faced an uncertain future. Due to its historical struggles, many people still ask if the species is endangered. The direct answer is that the wild turkey is generally not endangered, representing one of the continent’s most successful conservation stories. It currently thrives across a vast range, a remarkable recovery from alarmingly low population levels.
Current Conservation Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) officially lists the wild turkey as a species of “Least Concern,” reflecting its healthy and widespread population. This designation indicates the species is not facing a threat of extinction in the wild. The collective population across the United States and Canada is estimated to be around six to seven million individuals.
This robust population has allowed the species to expand its range significantly across the continent. None of the wild turkey subspecies are currently listed under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA). While some localized populations may experience regional declines, the species as a whole is stable. The current status is a testament to decades of focused conservation work.
The History of Near Extinction and Recovery
The common question about the turkey’s endangered status stems from a devastating population crash that occurred between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries. The primary causes of this decline were widespread, unregulated market hunting and extensive habitat loss. Early European settlement led to massive deforestation, which eliminated the mature woodland habitat the birds needed for roosting and foraging.
By the 1930s, the total wild turkey population across the United States had plummeted to an estimated low of only 30,000 to 200,000 birds. The species was completely eliminated from 18 of the 39 states it originally inhabited. This crisis spurred conservationists and state agencies to action, beginning with the implementation of strict hunting regulations.
The real turning point was the development and widespread use of the “trap-and-transfer” program starting in the 1950s. This technique involved capturing wild turkeys from healthy, established flocks using specialized devices like cannon nets. The captured birds were then relocated and released into suitable habitats in states where the species had been eliminated or severely reduced. Over 200,000 wild turkeys were relocated through these efforts, fundamentally rebuilding populations across the country. This successful restoration was also funded in part by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, which placed an excise tax on firearms and ammunition to fund state wildlife conservation projects.
Geographic Range and Subspecies
The single species of wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, is divided into six recognized subspecies. Five are found in the United States and one primarily in Mexico. These subspecies are distinguished by slight variations in size, color, and feather tipping, which correspond to their distinct geographic ranges.
- The Eastern wild turkey (M. g. silvestris) has the largest distribution, inhabiting the eastern half of the U.S. from southern Canada to northern Florida, and is the most abundant subspecies.
- The Osceola or Florida wild turkey (M. g. osceola) is geographically restricted, found only on the Florida peninsula.
- The Rio Grande wild turkey (M. g. intermedia) occupies the brushy scrub and open country of the southern Great Plains, concentrating in Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of Mexico.
- The Merriam’s wild turkey (M. g. merriami) is a mountain bird found in the ponderosa pine forests of the Rocky Mountains, including New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming.
- The Gould’s wild turkey (M. g. mexicana) is the largest of the subspecies, primarily found in the mountainous regions of northern Mexico and in small populations in Arizona and New Mexico.