Maine turkeys get a bad rap when it comes to ticks

By V. Paul Reynolds

When wild turkeys were transplanted in Maine from Vermont stocks in the 1970s, not even our wildlife biologists thought these large birds could establish themselves so pervasively, or prove so tough when it came to winter survival.

Maine’s current turkey population is estimated to be an incredible 70,000. For hunting purposes, the wild turkey is considered to be big game, and our spring and fall turkey hunt has provided exciting and challenging hunting opportunities.

But, from a public image standpoint, all is not gold that glitters. Myths or erroneous notions abound when it comes to the public image of our large game birds.

Myth one: The proliferation of wild turkeys can be blamed for declining deer numbers. Deer don’t like turkeys and will leave an area where turkeys abound. Besides, both of these species compete for forage. Studies by wildlife biologists and conventional wildlife science finds no basis in fact regarding these popular beliefs.

Myth two: The explosion of deer ticks in Maine can be traced to the introduction of turkeys. Turkeys are transporters of these ticks. Here is an explanation from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: 

“The timing of the expansion of ticks does coincide with the reestablishment of wild turkeys, and with such suspicious timing, turkeys seem like an easy scapegoat. But, as every good scientist knows, correlation does not imply causation. In other words, two independent events trending similarly over time does not definitively prove that one produced the other. Why? There are countless other variables in play! Changes in temperature, humidity, human population, wildlife populations, habitat and much more were also occurring at the same time, so the determination of cause and effect is complex to say the least.

“A number of scientific studies have been conducted to investigate interactions between turkeys and ticks and determine if wild turkeys are likely beneficial hosts for deer ticks at any stage in the life cycle. The results were clear. Deer ticks rarely successfully feed on turkeys. While turkeys can and do sometimes carry ticks, it’s not at high levels, and most are quickly consumed during preening prior to becoming engorged, limiting spread. So, could turkey preening and foraging actually decrease tick densities? Unfortunately, no. Study results show that turkeys are relatively ineffective predators of ticks. Overall, wild turkeys carry a few ticks and eat a few ticks, and have a net zero impact.

“Turkeys have also been blamed for the worrisome proliferation of the winter tick that has been ravaging Maine’s adult and calf moose. The science also vindicates the turkey on this count. The winter tick has been with us long before turkey introductions, and the winter tick survives on a solo host, usually a moose. Mild winters combined with high moose population densities are the key elements in proliferation of winter tick and reproductive rates of moose.”

Yes, Maine’s wild turkeys have been getting a bad rap. 

The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide and host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network. He has authored three books. Online purchase information is available at www.sportingjournal.com.