Representative image of wild turkeys thriving in a restored prairie habitat. Image Credits: ChatGPT.
The work was recognised in 2024, when Mike and Mary Terry received the Texas Leopold Conservation Award for their efforts to improve the health and productivity of their land while maintaining it as a working ranch. In a landscape shaped for generations by cattle grazing, one Texas couple took a different approach to managing their newly acquired ranch. Instead of treating the land only as pasture, they began restoring its grasses, trees, water sources and wildlife habitat. Over time, the effort showed how land management can affect the species that depend on it. After purchasing the ranch, the Terrys sold their cattle within months, giving heavily grazed pastures time to recover. Cattle were later reintroduced under a more carefully managed grazing system, alongside efforts to improve water sources and wildlife habitat. This approach is consistent with research published in the Journal of Wildlife Management , which examined habitat selection by Rio Grande wild turkeys in the Texas Panhandle and southwestern Kansas. The study found that turkeys selected areas with riparian vegetation, while females preferred nongrazed pastures for nesting at two study sites. It also found that light to moderate grazing followed by periods of rest did not reduce pasture use by male turkeys, suggesting that well-managed grazing can coexist with suitable turkey habitat. Wild turkey populations can fluctuate with rainfall, food availability, nesting conditions and broader changes in the landscape. A study published by the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies found that male Rio Grande wild turkeys in South Texas used herbaceous and woody riparian habitats disproportionately during drought and were more likely to occur near supplemental resources such as water and food. The findings highlight how access to vegetation and water can become particularly important for turkeys when environmental conditions are difficult. The increase in turkeys at MT7 is part of a broader recovery of the ranch’s habitat. Rather than removing cattle permanently, the Terrys incorporated grazing into a wider conservation strategy, using controlled grazing alongside vegetation management, tree planting and improvements to water resources. These efforts have helped create a landscape that supports both ranching and wildlife.
