Welcome to Wild Turkey Science, a podcast made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow.

I'm Dr. Marcus Lashley, Professor of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Florida.

And I'm Dr. Will Gulsby, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management at Auburn University.

We're both lifelong hunters and devoted scientists who are passionate about hunting,

managing, and researching wild turkeys.

In this podcast, we'll explore turkey research, speak to the experts in the field,

and address the difficult questions related to wild turkey ecology and management.

Our goal is to serve as your connection to wild turkey science.

Another thing that comes to mind for me that, you know, I'm thinking through the situations I've been in when working with people and also the questions. I've heard it several times, and it seems like it's more often when people are managing wet areas.

I hear something along the lines of, well, if I open up the canopy or increased disturbance,

you know, I understand why I would want to do that, but I'm going to get taken over by Japan grass or privet or,

you know, we can list out several other things.

In my neck of the woods, it's Chinese tallow tree.

That's what I was going to say is probably tallow there.

Yeah.

So what, you know, what do you have to tell people, I guess, about that situation?

Because I think it is a real concern

over the landscape and, you know, what that species is, is going to vary.

But a lot of folks probably have to deal with something like that.

Well, it's, and this is, this is honestly how I respond to it. I tell folks that every time we know that we have a pretty good chance to get in the car rack every time we get in the car, but we still get in cars.

And yeah, when, especially in moist soils, when you open the canopy, you're going to probably increase your

possibility. It's very likely you're going to get some kind of no good plant species come in,

...