Ground roost resource selection for Merriam's wild turkeys

Chad P. Lehman; Daniel J. Thompson; Mark A. Rumble

Treesearch

Ground roost resource selection for Merriam's wild turkeys

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Chad P. Lehman, Daniel J. Thompson, Mark A. Rumble

Year:

2010

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Journal of Wildlife Management. 74(2): 295-299.

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Abstract

Concealment cover is important for ground-roosting wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) poults immediately following hatch during the vulnerable, preflight stage. We compared concealment cover resources selected at ground roosts to those of nest sites and available resources for Merriam's turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA. Females with preflight poults selected ground roosts that were similar in structure to nest sites. Ground roosts and nests were greater in visual obstruction (unit odds ratios L1.19) than random sites. However, ground roosts were closer to meadow-forest edges than either nests or random sites (unit odds ratios M0.98). Structure at ground roosts may provide visual protection from predators, and management for shrub vegetation or woody debris along meadow-pine forest ecotones will provide cover for Merriam's turkey broods.

Keywords

Black Hills, ground roost, Merriam's, ponderosa pine, resource selection, wild turkey

Citation

Lehman, Chad P.; Thompson, Daniel J.; Rumble, Mark A. 2010. Ground roost resource selection for Merriam's wild turkeys. Journal of Wildlife Management. 74(2): 295-299.