Space-use, movements, and survival of translocated eastern wild turkeys in east Texas

Translocation failures are driven by the inability of animals to adapt to abiotic and biotic factors occurring in the new landscape. Translocated animals typically prospect the local landscape post-release, and the presence of conspecifics positively influences translocation success via reductions in post-release movements. Extensive efforts to restore eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) to east Texas have yielded mixed results, leading to a low-density, fragmented population. Therefore, information on space use, movements, and survival of translocated turkeys may improve the success of future translocation efforts. We translocated 78 female and 23 male wild turkeys to Angelina National Forest, TX, USA, during 2016-2017. We monitored translocated turkeys using GPS telemetry and observed an apparent decline in space use and movements at approximately 20 days post-release for turkeys translocated in 2016. Turkeys translocated in 2016 in the absence of conspecifics maintained larger mean daily core area and home range sizes and moved greater daily distances from the release site and between roosts during days 1-20 compared to days 21-80. Conversely, females translocated in the presence of conspecifics (during 2017) used smaller daily core areas and home range sizes than females in 2016 and moved shorter distances. We modelled survival using Cox proportional hazards models and determined survival declined with greater daily core area size and daily distance travelled during year 1, but the effect of daily distance travelled was not significant in year 2. Our results suggest that translocations to areas with wild turkeys present may be a strategy to minimize movements and improve survival, thereby increasing translocation success.