Historical and potential growth of Gould's wild turkey populations in New Mexico

Abstract

AbstractGould's wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) are native to the southwest corner of New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and northern and central Mexico. Early ornithological explorations of southwestern New Mexico documented the presence of turkeys, but the subspecies was not identified as Gould's wild turkeys until 1957. Although extirpated from Arizona by 1920, a remnant population of Gould's wild turkeys persisted in the Peloncillo and Animas mountains in New Mexico, possibly due to recolonization from or genetic exchange with proximal populations in Mexico. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish placed Gould's wild turkey on the State Endangered and Threatened list in 1974. Research and monitoring during the mid‐1980s through early 2000s largely focused on observational studies of Gould's wild turkey distribution, abundance, and habitat use. Since 2005, population status and distribution of Gould's wild turkeys in the Peloncillo Mountains was monitored using structured, annual surveys that provided greater insight into minimum population size. From January 2014 to January 2016, the population in the southern Peloncillo Mountains was augmented with the translocation of 60 Gould's wild turkeys from southeastern Arizona. Annual observations of Gould's wild turkeys increased following the 2014–2016 translocations in part due to the ability to detect radio‐marked individuals and identify previously unknown habitats birds were using, allowing for modified survey efforts. Although information on Gould's wild turkey distribution and abundance has increased since 1980, much of the available habitat is currently considered occupied, and future population distribution may be limited.