As a passionate mushroom forager, I’m always interested in learning about the relationships between mushrooms and the animals that may eat them. And one question that often comes up is whether turkeys eat morel mushrooms. As both a turkey hunter and morel enthusiast, I was curious to dig into the facts on this topic.
A Look at Wild Turkey Diet and Foraging
Wild turkeys are opportunistic omnivores meaning they will eat a wide variety of food sources depending on availability. Their diverse diet includes seeds, nuts fruits, plants, insects, small vertebrates and more. As natural foragers, turkeys spend much of their time scratching through leaf litter and soil in search of food.
Turkeys rely heavily on their strong sense of sight when foraging. Their field of vision is approximately 270 degrees, giving them excellent peripheral vision to spot food sources as they scout the forest floor. Turkeys also have a keen sense of smell and hearing that aids their foraging success.
The Appeal of Morels for Turkeys
Morel mushrooms offer some natural nutrition and appeal that could attract wild turkeys during their foraging activities:
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Protein source – Morels provide a decent amount of protein, around 3 grams per ounce. This nutrient content could supplement the turkey’s diet
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Forest habitat – Morels thrive in forest environments with deciduous trees. This overlaps directly with preferred turkey habitat.
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Strong scent – The rich, earthy aroma of morels carries through the forest, potentially drawing in curious turkeys.
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Spring timing – The spring morel season coincides with turkeys building nutrition for breeding and nesting.
Documented Cases of Turkeys Eating Morels
While scientific research on turkeys consuming morels appears limited, there are some documented cases:
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A study in Pennsylvania observed wild turkeys ingesting morel mushrooms.
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Some turkey hunters have reported finding morel remnants in the guts of harvested turkeys.
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Certain online forums contain accounts of people witnessing turkeys pecking at or disturbing morel mushrooms.
So while not conclusively proven, there is anecdotal evidence of turkeys consuming morels in the wild.
Potential Motivations for Morel Consumption
Beyond nutritional value, there are some other potential reasons turkeys may sample morels:
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They could be ingesting insects or larvae living on the morels.
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Turkeys may be searching for food scraps left by other animals around morel patches.
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Mistaken identity is possible if unaware that morels are fungi rather than plant material.
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Curious poults (baby turkeys) may investigate morels even if adults avoid them.
Reasons Turkeys May Avoid Morels
Though turkeys seem capable of eating morels, there are also some valid reasons they may avoid them:
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The complex carbohydrate chitin in morel cell walls makes them harder to digest.
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Toxicity from raw or false morel consumption can cause sickness.
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Availability of tastier food sources like nuts, seeds and greens.
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Competition from squirrels, deer and other animals also eating morels.
Safety Tips for Turkeys and Morels
If you live in an area with both wild turkeys and morels, here are some tips to support their safe coexistence:
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Properly cook morels before feeding to domestic turkeys to avoid toxicity.
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Clear spots with high false morel concentration away from turkey habitat.
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Promote forest biodiversity to provide alternative turkey food sources.
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Monitor turkey activity around morel patches to prevent overconsumption.
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Educate others not to harvest morels where turkey poults are present.
Based on the evidence, I believe wild turkeys do likely consume morel mushrooms at least occasionally. However, morels probably comprise a very small percentage of their overall diet. Their foraging choices will depend on the specific forest environment.
I don’t think turkeys purposefully seek out morels as a primary food source. But they may opportunistically ingest them as encountered while foraging. One thing is for certain – as a passionate mushroom hunter, I’ll be keeping an even closer eye out for turkeys while morel hunting in the future!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can turkeys smell morels growing underground?
It’s unlikely turkeys can detect morels below ground. But they may be drawn in by the inviting scent once the mushrooms emerge.
Are morels part of a turkey’s natural diet?
Morels are not a primary component of wild turkey diets. But as opportunistic foragers, turkeys will sample morels periodically when available.
Do turkeys compete with humans for morels?
There is the potential for competition if turkey habitat overlaps with popular mushroom hunting grounds. But turkeys likely only consume a tiny portion of the morel bounty.
Can turkeys identify poisonous mushroom varieties?
Turkeys do not appear able to differentiate edible from poisonous mushrooms. Consuming toxic varieties like false morels could cause sickness.
How can I keep turkeys away from my morel patch?
Strategies like hanging reflective tape near morels, using decoy predators, and harvesting frequently after sprouting may help deter curious turkeys.
Are wild turkeys a threat to morel mushroom populations?
It’s unlikely turkeys significantly impact local morel populations. Their occasional nibbling doesn’t compare to dedicated human mushroom hunting.
Can turkey activity decrease morel yields for human foragers?
In limited circumstances, heavy turkey foraging in a single patch may decrease morel numbers or size. But their broader impact is negligible.
Do turkeys eat mushrooms helpfully by dispersing spores?
Turkeys likely play little role in active mushroom spore dispersal. Wind, rain and other forest activity distribute spores effectively already.
Why do turkeys scratch up soil and leaf litter where morels grow?
This scratching behavior is simply their natural foraging process in search of seeds, insects and other food – not specifically targeting mushrooms.
Should I avoid hunting turkeys near prime morel habitat?
You don’t need to avoid overlap completely. Just be mindful that turkeys may be attracted to the same habitat features and exercise proper harvest practices.
References
Parris, A.J. “Morels and Turkeys.” Missouri Conservationist, Mar. 2017, mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2017/03/morels-and-turkeys.
McGowan, Katie. “Do Turkeys Eat Morel Mushrooms?” The Kitchen Knowhow, 5 May 2024, https://thekitchenknowhow.com/do-turkeys-eat-morel-mushrooms/.
McGrath, Matt. “Do Turkeys Eat Morel Mushrooms?” Chef’s Resource, 2022, https://www.chefsresource.com/do-turkeys-eat-morel-mushrooms/.
“Turkeys and Morels.” Wild Mushroom Hunting, https://wildmushroomhunting.org/index.php?/topic/1462-turkeys-and-morels/. Accessed 28 Feb. 2023.
