New Hampshire’s eastern wild turkeys were once gone from the state — unregulated hunting and habitat loss led to their extirpation in the mid-1800s.
In the late 1970s, NH Fish and Game began a wild-turkey reintroduction, funded by a federal Wildlife Restoration Program grant. Careful monitoring and protection of the wild turkey and a focus on habitat management helped the flock flourish — so that today, the birds are an increasingly common sight throughout New Hampshire, with an estimated total population topping 22,000.
… That if Benjamin Franklin had had his way, the wild turkey might have been the symbol of the United States instead of the bald eagle!
… The Pilgrims probably ate fish and venison at the first Thanksgiving. They may or may not have eaten turkey!
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