Wild Turkey Science – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we discuss our recent paper quantifying turkey abundance, highlighting the Florida Wildlife Corridor and exploring how this project preserves turkey habitat amidst increasing development pressures. Paper will be linked as soon as it is released.

Resources: 

Sibiya, M. D., et al. (2025). Data integration reveals that a statewide corridor initiative maintains greater wild turkey relative abundance and occupancy. Landscape Ecology, 41(1), 6.

Citizen science for turkeys (Ep 119) https://youtu.be/LEbFvaRhNKA

Scale of management for turkeys (Ep 156) https://youtu.be/2vIRBfFt-ls

Restoring the functionally extinct American Chestnut (Ep 157) https://youtu.be/ENrL86_i06g

eBird https://ebird.org/home

Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation https://floridawildlifecorridor.org/

FWC Summer Brood Survey https://myfwc.com/hunting/turkey/brood-survey/

iNaturalist https://www.inaturalist.org/

Merlin Bird ID https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Snapshot USA https://www.snapshot-usa.org/

Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab

We've launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now! 

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 

UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube

Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you! 

Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

We're bringing back our episode exploring the American chestnut's history, ecological importance, challenges faced due to habitat change and disease, on-going conservation efforts, and how you can get involved in its ecological restoration. 

Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab

Resources:

Diamond, S. J., et al. (2000). Hard mast production before and after the chestnut blight. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, 24(4), 196-201.

The American Chestnut Foundation

The American Chestnut Foundation: Growing Chestnuts

Tree Snapp App

 Varner, J. M., et al. (2021). Litter flammability of 50 southeastern north American tree species: evidence for mesophication gradients across multiple ecosystems. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 4, 727042.

We've launched our second online wild turkey course  ! Enroll in  Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History & Habitat to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions, and historical context of wild turkeys. This course is accredited by the Society of American Foresters as a Category 2 course worth 7 Continuing Forestry Education credits. Participants can also earn up to 5 CEUs in Category I of The Wildlife Society's Certified Wildlife Biologist Program. Enroll now: https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio

Be sure to check out our first comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now! 

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 

UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube

Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you! 

Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Forester and wildlife biologist Jordan Nanney continues the conversation on hardwood timber sale evaluation. He breaks down the first steps landowners should take, common mistakes made, what to avoid, and ways landowners can protect themselves. Check out the first part of this conversation (here).

Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab

Resources: 

NRCS Programs & Initiatives

Jordan Nanney Jordan.Nanney@CompassSouth.com

Compass South Forestry https://compasssouthforestry.com/ 

We've launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Enroll Now! 

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 

UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube

Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!

Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com!

Watch these podcasts on YouTube

Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you! 

Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube

Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!

Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Marcus calls Will from the road to reflect upon and breakdown their recent site visit to a landowner managing for deer and turkey, the primary factors weighed when juggling multiple objectives, and when to use which strategies.

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you!

https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3VR10xcKOMTvZH0

Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile)

Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) 

UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube)

Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak 

Marcus and Will wrap up our first year of production by reflecting upon the most memorable moments from recording, favorite segments from the season, unexpected feedback from listeners, and our plans for the show moving forward.

Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey below. Thank you in advance!

https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3VR10xcKOMTvZH0

Resources:

• I lease land…what about me? | #12

• Has turkey habitat changed? | #21

• Brooding and nesting cover (Part 1/2) | #29

• Brooding and nesting cover (Part 2/2) | #30

• How to science | #37

• What not to do | #39

• Legends of turkey research | #50

• NE Update: Year 1 results | #56

Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile)

Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) 

UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube)

Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak 

Duck Locascio, Forestry Program Manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, joins Marcus and Will to demystify and provide actionable steps to managers interested in improving turkey habitat in bottomland hardwood forests.

Resources:

• Desired Forest Conditions document

• Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture

Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile)

Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) 

UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube)

Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Duck Locascio, Forestry Program Manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, joins Marcus and Will to demystify and provide actionable steps to managers interested in improving turkey habitat in bottomland hardwood forests.

Resources:

• Desired Forest Conditions document

• Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture

Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile)

Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) 

UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube)

Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak 

Dr. Andy Little joins Marcus and Will to break down the study design and year 1 results from his research assessing wild turkey habitat needs across the state of Nebraska. Then, how landscape changes may be impacting population trends and which potential factors are bottlenecking brood survival.

Turkey Newsletter 2023

Dr. Andy Little (Publications) (IG) (X)

AWESM Lab (Website) (IG) (Facebook) (X)

Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile)

Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) 

UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube)

Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Will provides us with updates on his ongoing, hunter-led AL project quantifying fertility indexes in wild turkeys and how it relates to behavior and disease. Then, an update from Marcus on the FL genetic study assessing habitat connectivity and gene flow made possible by hunter-donated feathers. And finally, a look into Will's next project inspired by our listeners.

Resources:

• AL Update: Is there a dominant gobbler?

• Status of turkeys in FL (Part 1/2)

• Status of turkeys in FL (Part 2/2)

• FL Wildlife Corridor

• NY Times: Wild Turkey Decline

Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile)

Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) 

UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube)

Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Marcus and Will kick off the holiday season by reviewing a newly published predator-prey diet selection study, discussing fall diets for turkeys during poor oak masting years, and touching upon the American tradition of fall turkey hunting. 

Resources

• Youngmann, et al. (2023). Assessing springtime vertebrate prey of sympatric mesopredators in the southeastern United States using metabarcoding analysis. Plos one, 18(10), e0293270.

• DrDisturbance IG Reel

Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile)

Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile)

Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) 

UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube)

Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube

Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund 

This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 

Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. 

Music by Artlist.io

Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak