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.

Well, Marcus, this is, this is one I'm excited about.

I know that I say that about every episode because we talk about turkeys.

I'm always excited to talk about turkeys, but it's long overdue.

How many times have we said we really should be talking about some disease stuff, but, I mean, that has come up on like a dozen or more episodes at least.

I know it's one of the most common recurring questions that people have, just various aspects of

disease ecology about turkeys and how much we should be worried about various things.

And you and I have dodged those questions quite a few times trying to get an expert like

the one we have today on.

Yeah.

I mean, just, you know, improve your habitat and turkeys will be more disease resistant, right?

But we're so thankful to have Dr. Rick Gerhold here today with us that can do a much better job,

do this topic, you know, justice compared to us. And he is a professor of disease ecology at the

University of Tennessee. And I know, you know, personally, Rick has helped me out a lot with, you know,

consulting on various

disease-related aspects of some of my ongoing turkey research, and he's been instrumental in

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