Wild Turkey Populations Recovery in the United States

What are the main factors contributing to the recovery of wild turkey populations in the United States?

A. Ban on DDT
B. Reintroduction initiatives
C. Habitat management
D. All of the above

Answer:

D. All of the above

Wild turkey populations in the United States have made a dramatic recovery largely due to conservation efforts such as the ban on DDT, reintroduction programs, and habitat management.

The ban on the pesticide DDT, which was widely recognized for its detrimental effects on bird populations, including eagles and other birds of prey, played a significant role. After DDT was banned in 1972, bird populations began to rebound from the brink of extinction.

Reintroduction initiatives carried out by wildlife agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Foreign Game Importation Program, which released various game birds into the wild up until 1970, also contributed to the turkeys' resurgence.

Lastly, the manipulation of landscapes to create suitable habitats, along with more substantial regulatory frameworks for wildlife management, including wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas, have been instrumental in the species' recovery.