Predation Rates on Wild Turkey Hens in a Hardwood Bottomland Forest and a Mixed Forest in Mississippi

We looked at predation rates of hens by bobcats and coyotes in 2 entirely different forest types, which included bottomland forest and upland pine.  We found that mortality rates from bobcats and coyotes were higher in the bottomland forest, but overall survival of hens didn’t differ between sites.  We speculated that the insular nature of the bottomland forest (it was surrounded by agricultural fields) along with a high prey base of small mammals may have allowed a greater density of predators that kill hens. 

Share via:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Popular Posts