While strolling through the Morgantown Botanic Garden, I ran into some friends, and they inquired as to whether deer and turkey consume morel mushrooms. Although I was unsure about turkeys, I was aware that deer consume morels. Do they consume so much that the soon-to-be morel pickers are unable to find any?
That depends on several things. First of all, how many deer are there in the area? I live in Greystone, and there are a lot of tame deer that stroll around. Though they don’t have the best habitat, morels can be found in the nearby woods and along the golf course’s edges. Last spring I found a few behind my house. Although they were not in the thickest cover, they were also not in the open.
Neither the numerous turkeys I’ve seen in that area nor the deer ate those mushrooms. I think whether a deer will consume a lot of mushrooms depends on the density of deer and the type of ground cover in the area. It could also depend on other foods in the area.
My friends mentioned that they used to find morel mushrooms on a forested hill behind their house. They rarely saw deer and seldom saw wild turkeys. They do, however, see a lot of turkeys and deer in recent years, but no morel mushrooms. When I searched on Google to see if turkeys eat morels, I came up empty-handed. Nonetheless, I came across a few comments from folks who claimed to have witnessed turkeys pecking at morel mushrooms and thought they were removing insects that were inside and on top of the mushrooms. That makes sense to me. Additionally, I came across multiple instances where people thought that the turkeys were searching for worms, insects, etc. by scratching up the leaves. , they destroyed morels before they were above ground. That also seems reasonable to me, much like how a group of turkeys can destroy a leaf-covered area. These spots appear to have been raked over with a leaf rake, scattering leaves all over the place.
Upon contemplating this, I found myself wondering if deer and/or turkeys consume grouse eggs. Due to the sharp decline in grouse populations over the last 20–30 years and the sharp rise in deer and turkey populations, hunters have conjectured that deer and turkeys are disturbing grouse nests. Let’s consider turkeys first.
Turkeys do not eat grouse eggs. A turkey’s diet does not include eggs, and I could not find any references mentioning that turkeys consume grouse eggs. Do they compete with one another for food? Not enough to get into physical altercations. While grouse seldom use open field habitat, turkeys make use of both forests and open fields. In the last three decades, we have observed a decline in the number of grouse due to habitat loss (insufficient cutting of mature timber) and bird mortality caused by the West Nile virus.
The number of wild turkeys peaked and then somewhat decreased in a number of states, including West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Research on domestic turkeys indicates that the West Nile virus does not kill turkeys, and research is still being done to determine whether the virus also affects wild turkeys. As of right now, everyone agrees that the West Nile virus has no effect on wild turkeys.
When Pam Pietz, a wildlife researcher, was studying grassland birds in North Dakota years ago, she put small video cameras on a number of ground-nesting bird nests. Does this mean that deer eat grouse eggs? Four of 57 nests were invaded by deer. Apparently, the deer ate both the eggs and small chicks.
Scientists later came to the conclusion that although deer do not specifically search out bird nests, they may eat the eggs or young chicks if they happen to come across them. Does this imply that the low number of grouse we have today is due to high deer populations? Definitely not. Don’t go there. It’s unusual, but it’s not the cause of the low numbers of bobwhite quail and ruffed grouse.
Is further information required to support the most recent theory that deer are to blame for our grouse population’s decline?
Morel mushrooms, prized for their delicate flavor and elusive nature, often pique the curiosity of foragers and wildlife enthusiasts alike. While these delectable fungi are a popular culinary delicacy their presence in the diet of animals particularly turkeys, remains a subject of interest and debate. This comprehensive guide delves into the foraging habits of turkeys, exploring their potential consumption of morel mushrooms and the factors that influence their dietary choices.
Turkey Foraging Habits: A Diverse Palette
Turkeys, renowned for their omnivorous nature, exhibit a diverse and adaptable palate. Their diet encompasses a wide range of plant and animal matter, including:
- Seeds: A staple in their diet, turkeys relish a variety of seeds, such as acorns, beechnuts, and sunflower seeds.
- Fruits: Berries, grapes, and wild fruits provide essential vitamins and antioxidants.
- Insects: Grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars offer a rich source of protein and essential nutrients.
- Small mammals: Mice, voles, and snakes occasionally find their way onto the turkey’s menu.
- Reptiles and amphibians: Lizards, frogs, and salamanders provide a diverse source of protein and other nutrients.
Morel Mushrooms: A Potential Delicacy for Turkeys?
While morel mushrooms are not a staple in the turkey’s diet, there is evidence to suggest that these fungi can be consumed by turkeys under certain circumstances. Factors that may influence their consumption include:
- Availability: The presence of morel mushrooms in the turkey’s habitat plays a crucial role. In regions where morels are abundant, turkeys may encounter them during their foraging expeditions.
- Nutritional value: Morel mushrooms are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, which could supplement the turkey’s diet.
- Taste preference: Individual turkeys may exhibit varying preferences for morel mushrooms, with some finding them palatable and others avoiding them.
Evidence of Morel Consumption by Turkeys
Observations and anecdotal reports suggest that turkeys may consume morel mushrooms. For instance, a study conducted in Pennsylvania documented turkeys ingesting morels in the wild. Additionally, some hunters have reported finding morel fragments in the stomachs of harvested turkeys.
Factors Limiting Morel Consumption by Turkeys
Despite the potential for morel consumption, several factors may limit their inclusion in the turkey’s diet:
- Digestibility: Morel mushrooms contain chitin, a complex carbohydrate that can be difficult for some animals to digest.
- Toxicity: Certain morel species, such as the false morel, are poisonous and can cause illness or death in animals.
- Competition: Other animals, such as squirrels and deer, may compete with turkeys for morel mushrooms, reducing their availability.
While morel mushrooms may not be a regular part of the turkey’s diet, evidence suggests that turkeys can and do consume them under certain conditions. Their consumption is influenced by factors such as availability, nutritional value, and individual preferences. However, digestibility, toxicity, and competition from other animals may limit their regular inclusion in the turkey’s diet.
Additional Resources
- Wild Mushroom Hunting: https://wildmushroomhunting.org/index.php?/topic/1462-turkeys-and-morels/
- YouTube video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j0OoL_uq7jw
Keywords: do turkeys eat morel mushrooms, turkey foraging habits, morel mushrooms in turkey diet, factors influencing turkey diet, evidence of morel consumption by turkeys
do turkeys eat morel mushrooms
Do morel mushrooms eat other organisms?
In the food web, the morel mushroom is at the bottom in the sense of “preying” on other organisms. Yes, it does “feed” off nutrients/decomposing objects in the area, but it is still at the lowest level. Are morels sustainable?
Do morels grow on trees?
Rookie mistake. Veteran foragers know the best way to find morels is actually to look upward. While morels never grow on trees, they almost always grow around very specific types. Morels have a mycorrhizal relationship with various tree species.
Where can I find morels?
Sycamore tree, via designatednaphour. The bases of sycamore trees are some of my favorite spots to find morels. You’ll often find sycamores growing in floodplains where spring high water saturates and agitates the soil—two factors that come together causing morels to flush.
Are there morels around ash trees?
To be honest, I’ve only found morels around ash trees a handful of times, and they’ve mostly been black morels. That said, I know plenty of foragers who swear by ash trees, so I always take a look. I’ve been surprised more than once, including a significant flush of over 50 big yellows at the base of a massive dying ash last year.