Animal Sciences Commons^™

Comparison Of Predation Rates On Wild Turkey Hens Between Two Forest Ecosystems In Mississippi, Michael J. Chamberlain, Darren A. Miller, Bruce D. Leopold, George A. Hurst

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Because of increases in predator populations, concern has arisen about effects on wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations. We examined differences in predation of adult hens between 2 forested areas in Mississippi. Twin Oaks Wildlife Management Area (OAKS), located in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, is a 2,302 ha tract of mature bottomland hardwood forest surrounded on 3 sides by soybean fields. Tallahala Wildlife Management Area (TWMA) is a 14,410 ha mixed forest in central Mississippi and is part of a large, forested ecosystem. Hens were captured, fitted with transmitters, and monitored by telemetry, 1990-1994 on TWMA (n = …