BETHLEHEM, Pa. — State Game Commission officials are seeking the public’s help to survey wild turkey populations across the commonwealth, including the Lehigh Valley.
The Annual Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Sighting Survey, which began Tuesday, aims to track population trends across the state, according to a news release from the state Game Commission.
An important part of population management, data from the survey helps officials determine total wild turkey productivity and compare long-term reproductive success within Pennsylvania and across neighboring states, officials said.
“The turkey survey enhances our agency’s internal survey, which serves as a long-term index of turkey reproduction and is used in our turkey population model,” Game Commission Turkey Biologist Mary Jo Casalena said.
“Participants should report all turkeys seen, whether gobblers, hens with broods, hens without broods, or turkeys of unknown sex and age.”
The survey runs through Aug. 31.
Over-harvesting, habitat loss
A steady food source for indigenous populations across North America, wild turkeys became a staple for European colonists — so much so that the United States’ annual Thanksgiving holiday generally centers around a roasted turkey.
“Several theories explain how the bird got its name,” according to the state Game Commission’s website.
“Early naturalists might have confused it with a species of Old World guinea fowl found in Turkey. Or the word might describe one of the bird's calls, which sounds a bit like turk, turk, turk.
“Still a third explanation is that the word sprang from a Native American name for the bird, ‘firkee.’”
However, wild turkeys nearly went extinct because of over-harvesting and habitat loss.
"By the early 1900s — when eastern forests had been lumbered and periodic fires hampered their regeneration — the turkey was in trouble.”Pennsylvania Game Commission
“As our nation grew, settlers cleared wooded habitat for farms,” according to the Game Commission.
“And they shot turkeys for food. By 1800, market hunters were selling the birds for as little as 6 cents each. By the early 1900s — when eastern forests had been lumbered and periodic fires hampered their regeneration — the turkey was in trouble.”
After the Game Commission was founded in June of 1895, officials began imposing seasons and bag limits.
Now, wild turkeys can be found in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
‘Increase participation’
For the survey, participants can report the number of wild turkeys they see, along with the county, township, wildlife management unit, or WMU, date and contact information, in case agency biologists have any questions.
The majority of both Lehigh and Northampton counties are included in WMU 5C.
Participants can also drop a pin on the map for the location data to automatically populate, officials said. Location data is used only for the survey, not for law enforcement, and aren’t shared.
Last summer, there were more than 62,000 wild turkeys observed across Pennsylvania, according to state Game Commission data.
In WMU 5C alone, there were 1,631 reported, including 167 males, 425 hens and 819 poults, or sub-adults. Two hundred twenty of those reported were of unknown age and sex.
Since public participation began in 2016, the number of reported turkey sightings has doubled, officials said, arguing it enhances both the survey's accuracy and coverage.
“Thanks to the large sample size from all corners of the commonwealth, we have high confidence in the results,” Casalena said.
