Vermont's wild turkeys flourish after successful 1969 restoration

In 1969, Vermont initiated a project to restore its wild turkey population using birds trapped in New York. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department played a crucial role in this restoration, releasing 31 Eastern Wild Turkeys over a span of two years. The initial success of the program led to a dramatic rise in the population, which reached an estimated 500 to 600 birds by 1973, thanks to favorable habitat and climate conditions. Currently, the wild turkey population in Vermont is estimated to be between 45,000 and 50,000, all descendants of those early relocated birds. While Vermont's wild turkeys prosper, populations in southern and midwestern states have been declining, attributed to habitat loss and urban development, creating a contrast that highlights Vermont's success story in wildlife conservation.