Urban Turkeys Relocated to Strengthen Populations in Eastern Wyoming
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — In January, the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wyoming State Super Fund provided critical support to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department by funding a specialized turkey trap to address the growing issue of wild turkeys in urban areas of Casper, Wyoming. The trap has already proven successful, allowing for the safe capture and relocation of birds to rural habitats where they can thrive while also enhancing hunting opportunities.
In early February, the Bighorn Chapter of the NWTF partnered with Wyoming Game and Fish to relocate a group of turkeys from Casper to Niobrara County. Chapter volunteers played a hands-on role in the effort, assisting with capture, transport and release while using NWTF turkey boxes for safe relocation. Local college students also joined the effort, gaining firsthand experience in wildlife management.
Adding to the community involvement, more than 20 kindergarten students from Lusk Elementary School took part in the release, offering a unique educational opportunity about conservation and habitat restoration. By moving turkeys from urban settings to more suitable rural areas, the NWTF and Wyoming Game and Fish are not only resolving human-wildlife conflicts but also strengthening wild turkey populations and creating new hunting opportunities.
The decision to relocate turkeys to Niobrara County was especially significant, as the region’s turkey population is recovering from recent drought and severe winter weather that devastated habitat.
“Now that the habitat is coming back, these translocated birds will have a chance to establish and expand their population,” said Joan Eisemann, NWTF Wyoming State Chapter president.
The Bighorn Chapter and Wyoming Game and Fish have been actively relocating turkeys across the state, as urban expansion continues to displace birds in Casper. So far this year, over 100 turkeys have been relocated from city limits to more suitable environments across eastern Wyoming.
This innovative trapping and translocation effort is turning an urban wildlife challenge into a win for conservation. Through strategic partnerships and forward-thinking solutions, the NWTF and Wyoming Game and Fish are ensuring wild turkeys can thrive in their natural habitats while reducing conflicts in urban areas.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.