Wild Turkey Populations in Significant Decline Across the U.S.

Researchers are baffled by the decline, with potential causes ranging from habitat loss to climate change.

Wild turkeys, once a conservation success story, are now in significant decline, particularly in the South and Midwest of the United States.
Researchers estimate that the turkey population has fallen by at least 30 percent from peak levels in several states.
Possible causes for the decline include habitat loss, hunting, disease, and climate change, but no definitive answers have been found yet.
Even in states where turkey numbers are stable, officials are studying their numbers and watching for lessons from other places.
Despite the decline, wild turkeys remain more common than they were several decades ago.