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DNR seeks volunteers for annual summer turkey survey

If you’d like to help South Carolina’s wildlife this summer, the Department of Natural Resources has an excellent opportunity for you.

Annually, since 1982, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducts a Summer Turkey Survey to estimate reproduction and recruitment of wild turkeys in South Carolina. The survey involves agency wildlife biologists, technicians, and conservation officers, as well as many volunteers from other natural resource agencies and the general public.  The survey is conducted in July and August each year.
Annually, since 1982, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducts a Summer Turkey Survey to estimate reproduction and recruitment of wild turkeys in South Carolina. The survey involves agency wildlife biologists, technicians, and conservation officers, as well as many volunteers from other natural resource agencies and the general public. The survey is conducted in July and August each year.

Volunteers will join biologists, conservationists, and DNR officers in their annual turkey survey.

“The Summer Turkey Survey is designed to monitor annual nesting success of hens and survival of their young, which has the greatest influence on wild turkey population dynamics,” said Charles Ruth, DNR’s Deer and Wild Turkey Program.

The information allows biologists to calculate many factors essential for sound turkey management including: average brood size, percentage of hens with and without young, gobbler to hen ratio, and overall numbers of turkeys seen.

The 2013 report indicated that the statewide population of wild turkeys had dropped since 2012, a dip that biologists attributed to long stretches of cold, wet weather during nesting season. The 2014 season survey, which is being held from July 1 to August 29, will tell scientists if the population rebounded since then.

Volunteers do not need any special training, though they do need to be able to tell the difference between hens, poults, and gobblers.

The observations can be done during the volunteers’ regular outdoor activities. When a wild turkey is observed, volunteers simply fill out DNR’s online form (found here) and email the completed form to  [email protected], fax it to 803-734-3691, or mail it to Summer Turkey Survey, P.O. Box 167 Columbia, SC 29202.

For more information, visit http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/turkey/volunbroodsurvey.html.

Natalie Vereen-Davis

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