EFFECTS OF FERAL HOG CONTROL ON NEST FATE OF EASTERN WILD TURKEY IN THE POST OAK SAVANNAH OF TEXAS
Abstract: Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) have been implicated as a major cause of depredation on nests of reintroduced eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in Texas. To evaluate this assertion, we compared reproduction of radio‐marked turkeys on an area prior to (1998) and after (1999) int...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2005-01-01
|
| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00306.x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Abstract: Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) have been implicated as a major cause of depredation on nests of reintroduced eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in Texas. To evaluate this assertion, we compared reproduction of radio‐marked turkeys on an area prior to (1998) and after (1999) intensive feral hog control on the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in northeast Texas. In 1998, 69 feral hogs were removed (49 by trapping and 19 by hunters), whereas during 1999, 314 feral hogs were removed (313 by trapping and 1 by hunters). None of 28 nests hatched during 1998 when feral hog control was minimal. During 1999, 2 of 8 nests hatched and 3 poults were still alive at 2 weeks of age. Our results suggest that intensive feral hog control may have increased nest success and poult survival of relocated eastern wild turkeys on the Gus Engeling WMA. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2328-5540 |