Habitat Characteristics of Winter Roost Sites of Wild Turkeys in Trans-Pecos, Texas (Report‪)‬

Restoration of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) has been touted as one of the greatest wildlife success stories in North America. Populations of wild turkeys have been restocked to many habitats throughout their historic range and many populations have successfully recolonized former habitats. Three subspecies of turkeys occur in Texas including eastern (M. g. silvestris), Rio Grande (M. g. intermedia), and Merriam's (M. g. merriami), and turkey hunting represents a substantial portion of the hunting economy in Texas (Harmel-Garza et al., 1999). Certain habitat requirements must be met for an area to sustain a viable population of wild turkeys. According to Porter (1992), there are two key components for suitable winter habitat; food and roosting cover. During winter, food is critical for increasing fat deposits in young and adults for survival. Mast is the primary food source of wild turkeys during winter. The value of habitat increases with the proportion of mast-producing species (Porter, 1992). Trees and forested areas provide food, protection from adverse weather, and roosting sites. During autumn and winter, turkeys increase use of these areas and decrease use of open areas (Speake et al., 1975; Kennamer et al., 1980; Campo et al., 1989).