Wild Turkey Management Plan
Presentation Type
Oral and/or Visual Presentation
Presenter Major(s)
Natural Resource Management
Mentor Information
C. Griffin
Department
Biology
Location
Kirkhof Center 1142
Start Date
10-4-2013 12:00 AM
End Date
10-4-2013 12:00 AM
Keywords
Environment
Abstract
Natural habitat for wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is being significantly reduced due to the land being used for agricultural needs. To develop a turkey management plan for a 313 acre property in northern Isabella County, MI was the goal of the research. The property consists of several different landscapes but the increase in turkey habitat is desired. They prefer a mixed hardwood forest, primarily oaks, with some openings so that the omnivores can feed off the various hard mast, berries, grasses and insects. This variety of food allows small areas to hold large population sizes. I expect to find that the property will be able to hold a substantial population of wild turkey once the management plan is created and a more proper habitat structure is reintroduced. Field data will be collected to determine where the transitions between landscapes are and help create maps representing the best habitat as well as increase the current habitat already on the property.
Wild Turkey Management Plan
Kirkhof Center 1142
Natural habitat for wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is being significantly reduced due to the land being used for agricultural needs. To develop a turkey management plan for a 313 acre property in northern Isabella County, MI was the goal of the research. The property consists of several different landscapes but the increase in turkey habitat is desired. They prefer a mixed hardwood forest, primarily oaks, with some openings so that the omnivores can feed off the various hard mast, berries, grasses and insects. This variety of food allows small areas to hold large population sizes. I expect to find that the property will be able to hold a substantial population of wild turkey once the management plan is created and a more proper habitat structure is reintroduced. Field data will be collected to determine where the transitions between landscapes are and help create maps representing the best habitat as well as increase the current habitat already on the property.