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ALBANY – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos recently encouraged New Yorkers to participate in the state’s annual wild turkey survey.
“As New Yorkers continue to get out this summer and reconnect with nature, we ask them to keep an eye out for the state’s most popular game bird, the wild turkey,†Seggos said. “Reporting the turkeys you see in August helps DEC monitor the turkey population and contributes to our ongoing scientific efforts to identify this species.
Since 1996, the DEC has conducted a summer wild turkey survey to track wild turkey populations and estimate the number of wild turkeys (young of the year) per hen statewide, according to a press release.
Weather, predation, and habitat conditions during the breeding and brood rearing seasons can have a significant impact on nesting success and the survival of hens and turkeys. This index allows DEC to assess reproductive success and predict fall harvest potential.
During the month of August, survey participants record the sex and age composition of all wild turkey flocks observed during a normal trip. Those interested in participating can click on the “Online Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Report†on the CED website at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/48732.html.
To improve public safety and encourage visitors to state-owned lands to enjoy responsible recreation, CED launched the “Love Our New York Lands†campaign this spring.
The campaign responds to the steadily increasing number of visitors to state lands, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and over the past decade, as more New Yorkers and visitors from other states and countries have discovered New York’s natural beauty. State lands. For more details and more information visit the Love Our New York Lands webpage at tinyurl.com/w4mcddcu.
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