Where are The South Mountain Turkeys

Wild turkey populations across most of Pennsylvania are at all-time high levels. Pennsylvanians are seeing turkeys in places that would not have been considered turkey habitat a decade ago.

Yet, turkey populations in one area are noticeably lower than a decade ago. The area is known as “South Mountain” in South-central Pennsylvania South of Carlisle, in parts of Adams, Franklin, Cumberland and York Counties, within and around the Michaux State Forest (also known as Turkey Management Area 7B). WHY? Is it poor survival, low nest success, poor habitat, unreliable spring weather for nesting, poaching, pesticides?

RESEARCH STUDY

To answer this question, the PA Game Commission began a 2.5-year research study in 1999, in partnership with the PA Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation, the Bureau of Forestry-Michaux State Forest, Penn State University, and the Safari Club International – Lehigh Valley Chapter and Sables of the Lehigh Valley Chapter. Each year turkey biologists placed radio transmitters on female turkeys (163 in total) within the South Mountain area and are monitoring them daily through December 2003.

With radio-telemetry, researchers monitor turkey survival, determine how and why they die and at what rate, monitor nesting success and survival of their young, investigate habitat use and determine what types of habitat are most important to them. The telemetry equipment allows biologists to remotely keep track of the turkeys without disturbing the birds.

SURVIVAL

Although the study is still underway, we have seen that annual survival of the turkeys is slightly lower than normal. Also, survival of the young (poults) is lower than normal. Low survival rates make it difficult for the turkey population on TMA 7B to improve.

Two ways to improve turkey survival are to improve turkey habitat and reduce the harvest of turkeys during the fall turkey season when any turkey (male or female) can be harvested.

HABITAT

As part of the study we will determine if there are certain habitats the turkeys need and if they are available in the right quantity. Where possible, we will create or improve these habitats. For example, on the Michaux State Forest there are 40 permanent herbaceous openings for wildlife. These one to four acre openings are maintained in grass with fruit and nut producing shrubs and trees planted in them. Grassy and orchard-like openings are important habitats for turkey broods because of the abundant insect life they provide, especially when the grass is mowed in July so poults can forage through the openings. During the summer of 2000, only a few openings were mowed due to budget and personnel constraints.

During the summer of 2003, the Pennsylvania and Local Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) funded the mowing of all 40 openings. This is one example of the cooperative nature in which we are improving turkey habitat on TMA 7B.

High-quality habitat is vital to improving the turkey population because turkeys will be in better health to survive and breed, and will be better able to avoid predators. In high quality habitat, turkeys can more easily evade predation, even when predator populations are high.

Urban sprawl is another habitat problem in Turkey Management Area 7B, as in other areas of the state. Habitat around South Mountain is slowly being converted to housing developments, decreasing the amount of turkey habitat even more. Despite the fact that human recreation in the outdoors has many health benefits, recreation on the Michaux State Forest and surrounding lands continues to increase and may be hindering turkey nesting success and survival.

FALL TURKEY HUNTING

Though regulated fall turkey hunting may not be the limiting factor for this turkey population, fall hunting is one form of mortality we can control. Hunters may legally harvest any turkey (male or female) during the fall season. Harvesting too many females can negatively impact next spring’s breeding. Harvests of more than 10% of the total population in the fall can lead to future population declines because hunting mortality is additive to natural mortality. The fall turkey-hunting season here was reduced from two weeks to one week in 1995. Even with this decrease the turkey population has not responded. From the research study, we hope to learn if additional restrictions of the season are necessary, or perhaps other factors are limiting the population.

SPRING WEATHER

Some people suspect that cold, rainy springs kept the turkey population low by decreasing nest success and the survival of the poults. During the early 1990’s there were three consecutively cold, rainy springs. Cold spring rains hit again during the spring of 2000. Poult survival on the study area was approximately 32% that year. While the weather may have been one of the original causes of a decreased turkey population, it is not the only limiting factor. Spring weather in 2003 was dry and warm, but poult survival still was only 20-23%. Poult survival from other studies range 25-50%.

ILLEGAL KILLING & PESTICIDES

While society will never be rid of all unethical people who poach wildlife, illegal killing of wild turkeys has not been the leading cause of mortality in our study.

Also, there were early suspicions regarding the impacts of orchard pesticides on the turkey population. So far, 3 of 163 radio-tagged turkeys have died from pesticides. Even though pesticides and illegal harvests have not been substantial, these human-induced mortality factors add up. To combat the pesticide issue, some local orchards have become involved with the local chapters of NWTF to minimize exposure of pesticides to non-target species like turkeys. Rodenticides are used to rid the orchards of rodents that damage fruit trees. Instead of broadcasting the rodenticide throughout the orchard, NWTF volunteers are setting out covered bait stations so small rodents can access the rodenticide but non-target species cannot. To become involved, contact your local NWTF chapter.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

You can assist with bringing back the South Mountain Turkey. Here are some suggestions:

1. Create habitat on your property by planting fruit and nut producing trees and shrubs, protect wetlands and spring seeps, plant conifers for winter cover;

2. Keep pets leashed so they do not wander into the woods. Turkeys nest on the ground and are very susceptible to predation during nesting season from all types of predators, including pets;

3. Stay on marked roads and trails, especially during nesting season, to minimize disturbance to nesting turkeys;

4. Report sightings or harvest of radio-tagged or leg banded turkeys to the PA Game Commission or the Michaux State Forest (phone #’s on back cover);

5. Report all game violations to the PA Game Commission (PGC);

6. Report illegal ATV users to the Michaux State Forest or the PGC;

7. Do not release pen-raised turkeys into the wild. Released turkeys can carry diseases and can impair the genetics of wild turkeys;

8. Use bait stations for rodenticides on orchards;

9. Join your local conservation organization to donate your time and resources to protecting wildlife and improving habitat.

While modern scientific wildlife management has made great strides, one concept will never change: we attain the best results when our natural

resource agencies and private citizens work together to improve and protect our resources.

Report Any Leg-Banded Or Radio-Tagged Turkeys (Shot Or Found Dead) To:

PA Game Commission:

Southcentral Region Office: Toll-free 1-877-877-9107, or

Bureau of Wildlife Management: 717-787-5529

2003 Elmerton Ave.

Harrisburg PA 17110

Michaux State Forest:

717-352-2211

10099 Lincoln Way East

Fayetteville, PA 17222