The project
2025 study area
Last fall, the DNR received numerous reports of turkeys with lesions on their heads.
Several of these turkeys were tested for Avian Pox Virus, which is known to circulate in Minnesota wild turkeys, and Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus (LPDV), which was not previously known to be circulating in Minnesota but a disease of concern in the southern United States.
Surprisingly, all turkeys tested positive for both Avian Poxvirus and LPDV. While these diseases do not infect humans, they may impact survival and reproduction in both wild and domestic turkeys.
These detections heightened the need for a better understanding of what pathogens may be circulating in Minnesota's wild turkeys, which prompted the DNR to initiate a pilot project to assess turkey health.
Hunters helped us
With the help of turkey hunters from permit area 507 and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, we distributed 300 sampling kits and have collected samples from 260 harvested turkeys so far.
These samples will be tested for six different diseases of interest as determined by input from the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and our agricultural partners. These include:
- LPDV
- Reticuloendotheliosis Virus (REV)
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
- Avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV)
- Mycoplasma gallisepticum
- Mycoplasma synoviae
If successful, we hope to expand this pilot project statewide in the future.
Check back for results
All our sampling kits have been given out for 2025. Check back here later this year to see what we found.
Report sick turkeys
The DNR wildlife health program is tracking reports of sick turkeys. If you see a sick turkey, please report the event with as much detail as possible to [email protected].