Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1981

Thesis Director

Lawrence Barrie Hunt

Abstract

Attempts prior to the late 1950's to reintroduce the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) to much of its original range were through releases of game-farm reared, hybrid turkeys. While most releases throughout the eastern United States were complete failures, a remnant population of hybrid turkeys has survived in Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois. In 1981, the Illinois Department of Conservation opened a spring, gobbler-only hunting season in these counties. The purpose of this study was to compare April foods and parasites of the hybrid turkeys with results from studies on truly wild turkeys in southern Illinois. Crops, gizzards and intestines were collected from 24 birds. Plant materials made up 99.6% of the total volume of food present. Corn, grasses, clovers, common dandelion, sedges, oaks, wild black cherries, soybeans and wild plum, listed in descending order of percent total volume, were present in measurable amounts. Animal materials, all invertebrates, made up 0.4% of the total volume of food and were present in 54% of the turkeys. Intestines were examined for coccidia, nematodes, trematodes and cestodes. No parasites were found. Results from this study revealed numerous differences between this flock and the populations of truly wild turkeys in southern Illinois.

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