Wildlife biologists in Michigan are seeking help from the public for the state’s annual wild turkey brood survey.
Open now through Aug. 31, the survey provides the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with valuable information about the health of Michigan’s turkey population, which the DNR calls “one of Michigan’s greatest wildlife conservation success stories.”
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Considered regionally extinct in Michigan by the turn of the 20th century, wild turkey populations have seen major strides since getting reintroduced in the state by the DNR in the 1950s. Today, wild turkeys can be found in every Michigan county.
Still, the DNR says maintaining healthy turkey populations requires ongoing monitoring, which is why the wild turkey brood survey is so important.
“Summer is one of the best times of year to see wild turkey families,” said Adam Bump, the DNR’s upland game bird specialist. “Every brood observation helps us better understand how many young turkeys are surviving and where reproduction is occurring across Michigan.”
Since the survey launched in 2023, Michigan residents have submitted more than 17,000 sightings, documenting over 36,200 hens, 95,300 poults (young birds) and 15,500 male turkeys.
As part of a larger multistate effort supported by the National Wild Turkey Federation, the survey uses a standardized protocol for monitoring turkey populations, making it easier for biologists to track annual changes and compare trends with those observed in other states.
“Turkey populations are influenced by many factors, including weather, habitat conditions and poult survival,” Bump said. “By collecting observations year after year, we’re building a long-term dataset that helps us understand trends before they become problems.”
How to participate in the survey
Anyone can participate in the wild turkey brood survey. Whether you spot a single hen with a few babies or a large flock, DNR officials say “everyone can play a role in wildlife science.”
“If you see turkeys this summer, take a minute to report them,” Bump said. “Together, we’re creating one of the most comprehensive pictures of turkey reproduction in Michigan and helping ensure wild turkeys remain part of our state for generations to come.”
To report sightings of wild turkeys and turkey broods — family units consisting of at least one adult hen and her young — you can fill out the online survey form here.
Participants will be asked to provide the following details:
- Date of observation
- Location
- Number of hens observed
- Number of poults (young birds) observed
- Number of gobblers (adult males) or jakes (juvenile males, about a year old) observed
Most reports take only a minute or two to complete, and the survey uses an email login so observations can be associated with individual participants, helping biologists better analyze the data.
For more information about Michigan’s wild turkey population or to submit an observation, visit michigan.gov/turkey.