re: More information about declining bobwhite quail numbers

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Although culprits such as roadrunners, raccoons, cattle egrets, skunks,
hawks, weather, and especially fire ants are often blamed for the demise of
quail, the fundamental reason for declining quail numbers is loss of
habitat. While predation can certainly influence quail populations, impacts of predation increase as areas of habitat get smaller and are separated by longer distances. Local populations of quail on these islands of habitat are too few in number and too far from other quail to withstand catastrophic events such as floods, snow and ice, drought, etc. Therefore, isolated populations of quail have a greater possibility of becoming locally extinct.

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