20: ARMADILLOS TESTED AS POTENTIAL EGG PREDATORS OF WILD TURKEYS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA

ABSTRACT To explore indirectly the allegations that armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are important predators on wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) nests, we placed 42 dummy nests, each containing three to six chicken eggs, in areas of recent armadillo activity in the Mississippi Delta. During 84 nes...

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Main Authors: James Earl Kennamer, William H. Lunceford Jr.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1973-01-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1973.tb00052.x
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author James Earl Kennamer
William H. Lunceford Jr.
author_facet James Earl Kennamer
William H. Lunceford Jr.
author_sort James Earl Kennamer
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT To explore indirectly the allegations that armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are important predators on wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) nests, we placed 42 dummy nests, each containing three to six chicken eggs, in areas of recent armadillo activity in the Mississippi Delta. During 84 nest nights in May, 1969, armadillos walked by or rooted through 21 nests without damaging eggs. In three nests they broke the eggs, probably accidentally while rooting for insects. There was no evidence that they ate the contents of any of the eggs. Even allowing for some behavioral differences at real turkey nests, we doubt that armadillos are serious predators on wild turkey nests under conditions prevailing in this immediate area.
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spelling doaj-art-b10cfad226534dfea49efbe88cd2cbce2025-08-20T03:19:28ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55401973-01-011973S117517710.1002/j.2328-5540.1973.tb00052.x20: ARMADILLOS TESTED AS POTENTIAL EGG PREDATORS OF WILD TURKEYS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTAJames Earl KennamerWilliam H. Lunceford Jr.ABSTRACT To explore indirectly the allegations that armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are important predators on wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) nests, we placed 42 dummy nests, each containing three to six chicken eggs, in areas of recent armadillo activity in the Mississippi Delta. During 84 nest nights in May, 1969, armadillos walked by or rooted through 21 nests without damaging eggs. In three nests they broke the eggs, probably accidentally while rooting for insects. There was no evidence that they ate the contents of any of the eggs. Even allowing for some behavioral differences at real turkey nests, we doubt that armadillos are serious predators on wild turkey nests under conditions prevailing in this immediate area.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1973.tb00052.x
spellingShingle James Earl Kennamer
William H. Lunceford Jr.
20: ARMADILLOS TESTED AS POTENTIAL EGG PREDATORS OF WILD TURKEYS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
Wildlife Society Bulletin
title 20: ARMADILLOS TESTED AS POTENTIAL EGG PREDATORS OF WILD TURKEYS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
title_full 20: ARMADILLOS TESTED AS POTENTIAL EGG PREDATORS OF WILD TURKEYS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
title_fullStr 20: ARMADILLOS TESTED AS POTENTIAL EGG PREDATORS OF WILD TURKEYS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
title_full_unstemmed 20: ARMADILLOS TESTED AS POTENTIAL EGG PREDATORS OF WILD TURKEYS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
title_short 20: ARMADILLOS TESTED AS POTENTIAL EGG PREDATORS OF WILD TURKEYS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
title_sort 20 armadillos tested as potential egg predators of wild turkeys in the mississippi delta
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1973.tb00052.x
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AT williamhluncefordjr 20armadillostestedaspotentialeggpredatorsofwildturkeysinthemississippidelta