Researchers monitored hundreds of male and female turkeys, their nests and young across sites in Georgia, South Carolina and Louisiana over three years. They compared places with active hunting to places where hunting was uncommon.
In hunted areas about half of the male turkeys survived, while at non-hunted sites 83% of males survived. The study found that offspring sex ratios differed: where hunting was uncommon the ratio was balanced, but in hunted areas many more chicks were female — roughly two-thirds instead of half.
The researchers suggest that hunting may raise stress for females during egg-laying or change female choices about mates, and that these effects could matter for turkey populations and management.
Difficult words
- monitor — watch something for information over timemonitored
- survive — keep living after an injury or dangersurvived
- offspring — young animals or children of a parent
- sex ratio — number of males compared to femalessex ratios
- hunt — search for and kill wild animalshunted
- stress — strong feeling of worry or mental pressure
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Discussion questions
- Do you think hunting should be limited to help turkey populations? Why or why not?
- Why might stress during egg-laying change the sexes of chicks?
- Have you seen wild turkeys or other wild birds near your home? Describe briefly.
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