How to translate text using browser tools
1 February 2010 Ground Roost Resource Selection for Merriam's Wild Turkeys
Chad P. Lehman, Daniel J. Thompson, Mark A. Rumble
Author Affiliations +
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 ≥1.19) than random sites. However, ground roosts were closer to meadow–forest edges than either nests or random sites (unit odds ratios ≤0.98). 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.

Chad P. Lehman, Daniel J. Thompson, and Mark A. Rumble "Ground Roost Resource Selection for Merriam's Wild Turkeys," Journal of Wildlife Management 74(2), 295-299, (1 February 2010). https://doi.org/10.2193/2009-115
Published: 1 February 2010
JOURNAL ARTICLE
5 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
Black Hills
ground roost
Merriam's
ponderosa pine
resource selection
wild turkey
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top