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This article reports that the efforts to restore wild turkey populations across North America have been met with phenomenal success. However, according to biologists for the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), habitat improvement programs targeted to specific regions also are important in maintaining and improving these populations. The aim of the habitat program titled "Operation SOS," instituted by NWTF, is to plant trees that provide long-term habitat enhancement to help wild turkeys survive the cold winters in the northern part of their range.

This article reports that signups for three federal conservation cost-share programs is now in progress. The signups will continue from October 1, 2005 through January 13, 2005. The programs are administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. The programs are: the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, and Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). EQIP addresses such concerns as soil productivity, prescribed grazing, animal waste, and forestry concerns. WRP offers an opportunity for landowners to voluntarily enhance wetlands on their property.

The article reports that while efforts to restore wild turkey populations across North America have been met with phenomenal success, biologists for the National Wild Turkey Federation recognize that habitat improvement programs targeted to specific regions also are important in maintaining and improving these populations in 2005.

The article discusses key issues concerning a deer management association in the U.S., a group of land managers who cooperatively manage their shared deer herd to achieve common goals, such as improving buck-to-doe ratio or buck age structure. A cooperating group of managers with contiguous land can accomplish their goals quicker than relatively small landowners working alone.

Reports on the introduction of Threatened Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005, a revision of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, by California Representative Richard W. Pombo. Scope and coverage; Limitations of the original legislation; Complaints by critics that the new legislation would weaken the current law.

Focuses on the protection of endangered species by farmers in the U.S. Efforts to save the red cockaded woodpecker; Importance of habitat agricultural lands.

The article reports that the southern crop protection industry rallied behind an effort to generate written comments on a proposed Endangered Species Act regulation challenged by environmental groups opposing pesticide use. Thousands of responses were submitted by the industry to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the proposed "counterpart regulations" to improve the consultation process between the EPA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services on pesticide products. Under the Endangered Species Act, the EPA must consult with the U.S.