Wild Turkey Science - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Wild Turkey Science — Natural Sciences
Wild Turkey Science

Wild Turkey Science is a science-based podcast bringing you the latest research on wild turkey ecology and management. This podcast is part of the Natural Resources University podcast network and made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow.

Copyright: © 2022

Latest Episodes:

Are pigs eating all the acorns? | #105 Nov 11, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we review the available research on wild pig competition for acorns and their impact on competing wildlife species. We discuss the concept of competitive exclusion, the role of acorns in the diets of various species, the implications of pig removal on ecosystem dynamics, and what this means for turkeys.

Resources:

Anderson, W. M., et al. (2018). Using DNA metabarcoding to examine wild pig (Sus scrofa) diets in a subtropical agro-ecosystem. In Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference (Vol. 28, No. 28).

Bieber, C., & Ruf, T. (2005). Population dynamics in wild boar Sus scrofa: ecology, elasticity of growth rate and implications for the management of pulsed resource consumers. Journal of Applied Ecology, 42(6), 1203-1213.

Cutini, A., et al. (2013). Mast seeding in deciduous forests of the northern Apennines (Italy) and its influence on wild boar population dynamics. Annals of forest science, 70, 493-502.

Dykstra, A. M., et al. (2023). Biological invasions disrupt activity patterns of native wildlife: An example from wild pigs. Food Webs, 34, e00270.

Fay, A. S., et al. (2023). Impacts of wild pigs on acorn availability as a food source for native wildlife. Wildlife Research, 50(12), 1123-1130.

How pig removal affects turkeys | #97

Shimada, T., Iijima, H., & Kotaka, N. (2024). Wild boar population fluctuations in a subtropical forest: the crucial role of mast seeding in Ryukyu Islands, Japan. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 70(3), 1-11.

USDA Feral Swine Population Distribution

Wood, G. W., & Roark, D. N. (1980). Food habits of feral hogs in coastal South Carolina. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 44(2), 506-511.

Wentworth, J. M., Johnson, A. S., & Hale, P. E. (1989). Influence of acorn abundance on whitetailed deer in the Southern Appalachians. In Proceedings of Workshop Southern Appalachian Mountain Range (pp. 2-6). Knoxville: University of Tennesee.

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount at Grounded Brand by using the code 'TurkeyScience' at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Turkeys in the Midwest | #104 Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

You asked and we listened. In this episode, we are joined by Luke Garver, Wild Turkey Project Manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to discuss the current state of the wild turkey in Illinois. We dive into long-term population trends, environmental factors impacting reproduction, predator-prey dynamics, habitat challenges posed by invasive species, on-going research initiatives, and more.

Resources:

IL DNR Wild Turkey Survey

IDNR Turkey Survey App

huntillinois.org/turkey

Parker, C., et al. (2021). Pyrodiversity matters: wild turkey habitat selection in a fire managed landscape. Forest Ecology and Management, 493, 119227.

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Luke Garver Illinois.gov/wildlifestaff

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount at Grounded Brand by using the code 'TurkeyScience' at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Best acorns for wildlife | #103 Oct 28, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we dive into the available literature on wildlife preferences for acorns. We review the dietary composition of turkeys, factors influencing acorn consumption, how various wildlife species select for specific acorns, and highlight the complex interconnectedness of these ecological processes.

Resources:

Barras, S. C., et al. (1996). Acorn selection by female wood ducks. The Journal of wildlife management, 592-602.

Boggess, C. M., et al. (2022). Exposure to fire affects acorn removal by altering consumer preference. Forest Ecology and Management, 508, 120044.

Oak Forest Ecosystems

Pérez-Ramos, I. M., et al. (2007). Acorn removal and dispersal by the dung beetle Thorectes lusitanicus: ecological implications. Ecological Entomology, 32(4), 349-356.

Pyare, S., et al. (1993). Acorn preference and habitat use in eastern chipmunks. American Midland Naturalist, 173

Richardson, K. B., et al. (2013). Acorn-foraging preferences of four species of free-ranging avian seed predators in eastern deciduous forests. The Condor, 115(4), 863-873.

Steffen, D. E., et al. (2002). Turkeys, acorns, and oaks. Oak forest ecosystems: ecology and management for wildlife. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, 241-255.

Wakeling, B. F., & Rogers, T. D. (1994). Characteristics of pinon-juniper habitats selected for feeding by wintering Merriam's turkey. Desired Future Conditions for Pinon-Juniper Ecosystems, 74.

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount at Grounded Brand by using the code 'TurkeyScience' at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Herbicides | #102 Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

Will leads us on a detailed dive into the intricacies of herbicide management. Join as we delve into the uses and applications of selective herbicides for habitat management and forest stand improvement, associated risks with herbicide use, specific chemicals for invasive species, proper application techniques, mitigating nutsedge, and more.

Resources:

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount at Grounded Brand by using the code 'TurkeyScience' at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Oak masting research | #101 Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

Marcus walks us through his comprehensive oak study quantifying seasonal oak masting patterns and wildlife response. Join as he breaks down the methodology, findings, and implications of the research, and learn how oaks play a critical role in wildlife management.

Resources:

Demeny, K. M., et al. (2024). Intra-annual variation in oak masting affects wildlife feeding behavior. Current Zoology, zoae026.

Tree plantings for turkeys | #95

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount at Grounded Brand by using the code 'TurkeyScience' at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

100th Episode Special | #100 Oct 11, 2024

Show notes

For our 100th episode, we review (and react to) some memorable moments recorded throughout the last few years. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Here's to 100 more!

Watch this episode on YouTube here.

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount at Grounded Brand by using the code 'TurkeyScience' at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Oak Biology 101 | #99 Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

For the first episode in our Oaktober mini-series, we discuss the general biology of oaks. Listen as we breakdown the definition of mast seeding, the proximate and ultimate causes of masting, the direct and indirect effects it has on wildlife, local and regional scale masting effects, the differences in quality between oak species, the squirrel death games, and more.

Resources:

Bogdziewicz, M., et al. (2023). Maximizing the Moran effect: summer solstice orchestrates the subcontinental-scale synchrony of mast seeding.

Bogdziewicz, et al. (2023). Mechanisms driving interspecific variation in regional synchrony of trees reproduction. Ecology Letters, 26(5), 754-764.

Bogdziewicz, M., et al. (2024). Evolutionary ecology of masting: mechanisms, models, and climate change. Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

Boggess, C. M., et al. (2021). Facultative seed predators drive community-level indirect effects of mast seeding. Forest Ecology and Management, 502, 119713.

Journé, V., et al. (2023). Forecasting seed production in perennial plants: identifying challenges and charting a path forward. New Phytologist, 239(2), 466-476.

Managing hardwoods: Oak biology | #49

Niedzielski, B., & Bowman, J. (2015). Survival and cause-specific mortality of the female eastern wild turkey at its northern range edge. Wildlife Research, 41(7), 545-551.

Szymkowiak, J., et al. (2024). Masting ontogeny: the largest masting benefits accrue to the largest trees.

Szymkowiak, J., et al. (2024). Community-wide masting improves predator satiation in North American oaks. Forest Ecology and Management, 569, 122172.

Thogmartin, W. E., & Johnson, J. E. (1999). Reproduction in a declining population of wild turkeys in Arkansas. The Journal of wildlife management, 1281-1290.

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount at Grounded Brand by using the code 'TurkeyScience' at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

We gotcha, YouTube | #98 Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

Our producer Charlotte drops by to read us some questions and comments from our YouTube audience. Be sure to leave us a comment on this episode's YouTube video for a chance to win a turkey call! Signed by yours truly.

Resources:

1st National Wild Turkey Symposium (1959)

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount at Grounded Brand by using the code 'TurkeyScience' at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

How pig removal affects turkeys | #97 Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

Matt McDonough, PhD student at Auburn University, walks us through his master's project assessing how wild pig densities impact turkeys and their poults. Join as he breaks down his study's experimental design and results, and learn of Matt's key takeaways for landowners curious about the efficacy of pig removal on turkey populations across their property.

Resources:

McDonough, M. T. (2023). Population response of eastern wild turkeys and white-tailed deer to removal of wild pigs (Master's thesis, Auburn University).

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Matt McDonough @mmcd9, Website, Publications

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

Get a 10% discount at Grounded Brand by using the code 'TurkeyScience' at checkout!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

A deep dive into coyotes | #96 Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we dive deep into the literature on coyotes and explore the impacts of their interactions with turkeys. Join as we delve into the science of coyote predator-prey dynamics, the expansion of coyote populations across North America, their diets and impacts on turkey populations, research conducted on the efficacy of trapping, and more.

Resources:

Cherry, M. J., et al. (2016). Coyote diets in a longleaf pine ecosystem. Wildlife Biology, 22(2), 64-70.

Conner, L. M., et al. (2016). Predator exclusion as a management option for increasing white‐tailed deer recruitment. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 80(1), 162-170.

Grigione, M. M., et al. (2011). Diet of Florida coyotes in a protected wildland and suburban habitat. Urban Ecosystems, 14, 655-663.

Gulsby, W. D., et al. (2015). White‐tailed deer fawn recruitment before and after experimental coyote removals in central Georgia. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 39(2), 248-255.

Hickman, J. E., et al. (2016). Home range, habitat use, and movement patterns of female coyotes in Georgia: implications for fawn predation. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2, 144-150.

Hody, J. W., & Kays, R. (2018). Mapping the expansion of coyotes (Canis latrans) across North and Central America. ZooKeys, (759), 81.

Houchin, R. L. (2005). Coyote predation on the Rio Grande wild turkey in the Texas Panhandle and southwestern Kansas (Doctoral dissertation).

Kelly, J. D., et al. (2015). Seasonal and spatial variation in diets of coyotes in central Georgia. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2, 296-302.

Kilgo, J. C., et al. (2014). Coyote removal, understory cover, and survival of white‐tailed deer neonates. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 78(7), 1261-1271.

MacCracken, J. G., & Uresh, D. W. (1984). Coyote foods in the Black hills, South Dakota. The Journal of wildlife management, 48(4), 1420-1423.

Mastro, L. L., et al. (2019). Home range and habitat use of West Virginia Canis latrans (Coyote). Northeastern Naturalist, 26(3), 616-628.

Melville, H. I. (2012). The impacts of three common mesopredators on the reintroduced population of Eastern Wild Turkeys in Texas. Texas A&M University.

Miller, D. A., et al. (1998). Survival and cause-specific mortality of wild turkey hens in central Mississippi. The Journal of wildlife management, 306-313.

Niedzielski, B., & Bowman, J. (2015). Survival and cause-specific mortality of the female eastern wild turkey at its northern range edge. Wildlife Research, 41(7), 545-551.

Sasmal, I., et al. (2019). Seasonal space use of transient and resident coyotes (Canis latrans) in North Carolina, USA. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 97(4), 326-331.

Schrecengost, J. D., et al. (2008). Seasonal food habits of the coyote in the South Carolina coastal plain. Southeastern Naturalist, 7(1), 135-144.

UF DEER Lab Coyote FB Post

Wang, G., Butler, A. B., & Shan, X. (2023). Inverse relationships between coyote and wild turkey population time series: Implications for future studies of predator–prey interactions. Wildlife Letters, 1(4), 171-177.

Youngmann, J. L., et al. (2023). Assessing springtime vertebrate prey of sympatric mesopredators in the southeastern United States using metabarcoding analysis. Plos one, 18(10), e0293270.

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow

UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

Check out the NEW DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org.

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Related Podcasts