Cooney Creek Wildlife - Ruffed Grouse

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A few inches of fresh snow creates prime opportunities to track wildlife.

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This trail stood out among the numerous sets of ungulate tracks I encountered.

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A closer look revealed the trail of a ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) plowing through the snow. Ruffed grouse, like many birds, have three toes facing forward (red arrows) and one facing backward (blue arrow).

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I followed the tracks to a spot under a fir tree where the grouse had bedded down for a bit and deposited two different forms of scat.

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The map above shows the dates and locations of the most recent ruffed grouse sightings and tracks. As evident on the map, these birds prefer forested areas where they can find adequate cover.

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Male grouse, like the one pictured above, spend most of their lives within 200-300 yards of their drumming log. This spring we will locate active drum logs and place cameras on them.

Habitat Type(s):

Mixed Conifer

Posted on 2/12/2016 by Lorinda Bullington

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About MPG North

Established in 2005, the property boundary at MPG North encloses 200 undeveloped acres in Western Montana’s Swan Valley. Researchers and field staff manage the property to improve habitat quality for wildlife, discover new ways to restore damaged landscapes and study forest ecology. We also create opportunities to share what we've learned with local conservation organizations, students of all ages, management agencies and volunteers. Through these education and outreach efforts, we seek to inspire others to work together and protect undeveloped landscapes.