The Turkeys of Thanksgiving: A Conservation Triumph

Sat Nov 29 2025 10:21:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Discover how wild turkey population restoration through innovative wildlife trading has transformed the species from near extinction to abundant wildlife across North America.

Thanksgiving isn't just about the turkey on your table; it's also a tale of wildlife restoration. Wild turkeys were once nearly extinct, but thanks to creative trading among states and careful management, their population has soared to around 7 million across the U.S. This article explores the fascinating history of wildlife trading for conservation and the critical role wild turkeys play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

CONCORD, N.H. — While nobody dreams of a weasel on their Thanksgiving table, swapping turkeys for other wildlife has been a surprisingly common practice among conservationists.

At one time, the wild turkey population had dwindled to just a few thousand birds in the late 1880s. Thanks to innovative conservation efforts, however, that number has increased to approximately 7 million turkeys across 49 states and Canada. The National Wild Turkey Federation has played a pivotal role in this remarkable recovery.

Restoration often hinged on trades between states. For instance, Oklahoma traded walleye and prairie chickens in exchange for turkeys from Arkansas and Missouri, and Colorado offered mountain goats for Idaho turkeys. In Ontario, Canada, 274 turkeys were exchanged for moose and river otters from various U.S. states.

“Wildlife biologists don’t suffer from a lack of creativity,” stated Patt Dorsey, conservation director for the National Wild Turkey Federation's western region.

West Virginia has had a rich history of turkey conservation as well. In 1969, the state sent 26 turkeys to New Hampshire, trading for 25 fishers, furry animals prized for their pelts. This trading model allowed states to help one another restore their natural wildlife populations.

“They served as our currency for all the wildlife that we restored,” said Holly Morris, furbearer and small game project leader at the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

By the mid-1800s, wild turkeys were abundant until habitat destruction and unchecked hunting led to their decline. Restoration efforts initially involved farm-raised turkeys, but those attempts mostly failed. Capturing wild turkeys and relocating them to other areas proved to be a more effective strategy. The success of this method became evident in New Hampshire, where turkeys hadn't been seen for over a century until a flock from West Virginia was reintroduced.

Following careful management and repeated relocations over decades, the New Hampshire wild turkey population swelled to around 40,000, proving their adaptability and resilience.

Today, wild turkeys play a vital role in our ecosystems and are a popular target for hunters. These efforts underscore the importance of restoring native species, ensuring their persistence in our natural landscapes. As noted by Dorsey, the wild turkey serves as a catalyst for the revival of various other species as well.