The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is seeking help from the public with their yearly population surveys for wild turkeys. This summer, have you come across any wild turkeys? If so, ODNR would greatly appreciate your assistance.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is urging Ohioans to participate in their yearly survey by reporting any sightings of wild turkeys and ruffed grouse during the summer season.
As a member of the public, you can participate in community science by reporting your sightings of turkeys and ruffed grouse. When submitting your report, make sure to include the number of gobblers, hens, and young turkeys seen, as well as the number of adult ruffed grouse and their young. Don’t forget to note the date and county of observation and add any other relevant details you may have. Your contribution to the community science effort can be invaluable in helping researchers better understand these bird populations.
During the months of July and August, wildlife biologists utilize public sighting reports to estimate population statuses of various wildlife species. Since the year 1962, wild turkey summer observations have been tracked by biologists, while grouse summer observations have been monitored since 1999. This method of tracking has proven to be an effective way of estimating population numbers for these species.
According to recent surveys conducted in 2021, 2022, and 2023, there has been a noticeable increase in the turkey population in Ohio. This comes as a welcome change after several years of below-average results in the region. Typically, turkeys are found more commonly in the southern and eastern parts of the state.
Ruffed grouse, which resemble chickens in appearance, are game birds that are commonly found in Ohio’s densely forested areas, particularly in young, regenerating forests that are less than 20 years old. Unfortunately, the populations of these birds have been decreasing, and surveys like this one are crucial for biological studies.