Impact of Cicadas on Game Populations
Across many parts of the Southeastern and Midwestern United States, the familiar hum of cicadas serves as the soundtrack to countless days spent fishing out on the lake, evenings huddled around a campfire, and many other cherished summertime memories.
Residents in these parts of the country are in for a true cacophony this summer, however, as the 13-year XIX and 17-year brood XIII cycles have aligned, an event which hasn’t occurred in over 200 years! Expected to begin around late April through early June, this summer is slated to see millions of cicadas emerging, shedding their skins, and filling the air with their characteristic cries.
As the summer approaches, many have begun to speculate as to what these broods could mean for wildlife populations given the availability of this high-protein food source. One game population that may receive a much-needed boost from this year’s cicada broods is turkeys.
This blog article from Jason Lupardus of Turkeys For Tomorrow explores the ways that Turkey populations may see some relief as a result of shifting pressures from predators due to the availability of cicadas as a food source.