Got turkeys in the yard? The Pa. Game Commission wants to know
Got turkeys in your yard during the early morning hours? The Pennsylvania Game Commission wants to know.
The commission is seeking the public’s help in its annual turkey brood survey, taking stock of the game bird’s overall health in Pennsylvania.
“It is the largest turkey project we’ve ever conducted, with the hope of answering many questions regarding current turkey population dynamics,” Casalena said. “The public was so helpful the last two years and some even helped with monitoring sites and trapping. We look forward to continuing this winter.”
The studies are being done in partnership with Penn State University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Futures Program. Pennsylvanians are asked to report the location of any turkey flocks they see between Jan. 15 to March 15. An annual summer count also takes place.
“We’re studying turkey population and movement dynamics, disease prevalence, and other aspects that may limit populations,” said commission turkey biologist Mary Jo Casalena.
Game commission crews will then assess the areas for the potential to trap and band male turkeys before releasing them back into the wild. Hunters who harvest a banded turkey, or anyone who finds one dead, is asked to report the band number by phone or online.
“The data give us information on annual survival rates and annual spring harvest rates for our population model and provides the person reporting information on when and approximately where the turkey was banded,” Casalena said.
Game commission officials will also attach GPS transmitters to 150 hens and 100 males across four wildlife management units. One of those units, 2D, includes the northwest tip of Westmoreland County, the eastern half of Butler County and parts of Venango, Clarion, Jefferson and Indiana counties. The transmitters will help commission staff track flock movement and other aspects of the game birds’ lives.
Casalena said that sample group of 250 birds will also be monitored for disease through the collection of blood, throat swabs and feces.
The study will continue next winter for hens, giving the commission an ultimate sample size of more than 200 turkeys and more than 400 hens.
To take part in the study, or to report turkey flocks, go to PGCdatacollection.pa.gov/TurkeyBroodSurvey.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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