FIRE EFFECTS AND USE
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Meleagris gallopavo | Wild Turkey 



DIRECT FIRE EFFECTS ON ANIMALS : 
Spring fires may destroy nests.  Fast-moving fires may kill newly
hatched poults, but once wild turkeys can fly, fires are probably not
much of a problem; and losses to the population are negligible [15].


HABITAT RELATED FIRE EFFECTS : 
Annual prescribed burns in longleaf-wiregrass (Aristida spp.)-bracken
fern (Pteridium aquilegia) types of Georgia stimulated the growth of
important wild turkey food plants like legumes and panic grass [4].
Following prescribed fires in the Georgia Peidmont, total seed
production of desirable food plants increased during postburn year 1
from 6.4 kilograms per hectare to 26.4 kilograms per hectare [7].
Spring, late summer, and winter fires in Texas slash pine plantations
seriously reduced mast production but increased fruiting of flowering
dogwood [19].  Loblolly pine stands in South Carolina were burned to
determine the effects of fire on wild turkeys [8].  One plot, burned
every winter for 20 years showed an increase in desired food plants like
winged sumac (Rhus copallina), beggartick (Desmodium spp.), and
partridge pea (Cassia nictitans).  An adjacent plot burned every summer
for 20 years and one unburned plot showed little to no value for
wildlife.


FIRE USE : 
Prescribed fire can be used to stimulate the growth of food plants and
promote early spring green up of grasses [22].  Fire can also reduce
litter, exposing seeds and insects; and reduce brush so that turkeys can
be wary of predators [14,15,25].  Fire can be used to create edges to
increase nesting habitat [25].  It can also reduce parasites such as
ticks and lice [16].  Devet and Hopkins [8] recommended burning
loblolly-longleaf pine stands every 3 years, and burning every 4 to 6
years in Piedmont regions.  For burning recommendations of
mast-producing oak species see the desired species in the FEIS database.


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Meleagris gallopavo | Wild Turkey