Volunteers needed to spot turkeys to help KFW

You can help sustain the Kentucky wild turkey population by being an extra set of eyes for the state’s biologists.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife asks anyone who spots wild turkeys in July and August to report them through the Summer Turkey Online Survey Portal.

KFW says data collected through the survey helps the department better understand turkey population trends over time. Data from the survey is used to index the hatch and survival rate of young turkeys in order to assess reproductive success, which in turn influences limits set for turkey hunting season in order to help sustain the state’s turkey population.

The turkey population is studied by department biologists and graduate student researchers, and volunteers allow staff to expand the survey area. The survey gives the researchers insight into issues facing the turkey population such as habitat destruction, predation, and disease.

The online survey portal can be found at fw.ky.gov. A printable survey form may also be downloaded that a participant can then fill out and take a picture of to email back to KFW.