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Appendix K. Winter food habits of wild turkeys in northern Minnesota,
Phase II, 2010.
Winter food habits of wild turkeys in northern Minnesota
Eric M. Dunton, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Farmland Wildlife Populations Group,
35365 800 th Ave., Madelia, MN, 56062 (507) 642-8478 eric.dunton@dnr.state.mn.us
Background and Justification
The current range of the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) extends far north of
what was identified by Schorger (1966) as the ancestral wild turkey range. Wild turkey range in
Minnesota and throughout the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada is currently expanding
northward beyond agricultural areas (Kimmel and Krueger 2007). It is unknown how far turkeys will
expand outside of mixed forest-agriculture areas into northern forest areas, and if expansion does occur,
what their diet will consist of. Understanding winter diet selection of turkeys on the northern periphery of
their range and the interaction of agriculture, snow conditions, and food habits will provide management
tools to enhance turkey survival outside of an agriculturally dominated landscape.
The eastern wild turkey is a food generalist with winter diet ranging from 20 species (Korschgen
1967) to a restricted diet of just corn (Porter et al. 1980). As wild turkey range expanded north through
the mixed forest-agricultural habitats, Porter (2007) stated. “Looking back at the field studies of the
1970s, it is clear that they were telling us more than we realized: snow and cold are not the issue, the key
is food.” However, in a review of 603 references of turkey food habits, growth, and reproduction:
Gluesing and Field (1986) found that few turkey food habits studies corresponded to the critical winter
season.
Wild turkeys are ground feeders, a feeding strategy that can be limited by snow depth and snow
condition. Powder snow at 15-20cm hinders mobility, and 30cm can prevent movement (Austin and
DeGraff 1975, Healy 1992). Porter (1977) demonstrated that snow 25cm limited mobility and restricted
turkeys to 25ha, 10% of their normal range. Deep persistent snow cover can ultimately result in
starvation. In Pennsylvania starvation occurred when snow depth was 30cm for 2 weeks (Wunz and
Hayden 1975), 49 days in Wisconsin (Wright et al. 1996), and 40-59 days in New York (Roberts et al.
1995).
The northern expansion of eastern wild turkey range beyond historical limits has been closely
associated with availability of agricultural and livestock feed lots (Wunz 1992, Wunz and Pack 1992,
Kubisiak et al. 2001). Although, adequate information is available on turkey foraging behavior and
survival in northern turkey habitats with access to agricultural foods (Porter et al. 1980, Vander Haegen et
al. 1989, Kassube 2005, Kane et al. 2007), there is no information available on turkey food habits in
northern areas in which turkeys have limited access to anthropogenic food.
Page 217
2009 Conservation Program Report