Spruce Grouse

The grouse's natural habitat is in deciduous and mixed forests, especially in those with dense undergrowth and scattered clearings. They occur from the tree line of Alaska and northern Canada south throughout our country. During the summer the grouse feeds on insects, seeds, fruits and sometimes, a small snake or frog; the winter diet is much more limited consisting of buds and catkins. A shallow, sheltered depression lined with leaves and filled with 9 to 12 pinkish-buff, plain or spotted eggs characterizes the nest.

General issues across the Sub Region will be addressed below, followed by management plans specific to individual populations.

Issues:

• There may be herbicide spraying in regions in the Sub Region that may be affecting birds that eat or depend on the sprayed plants

Goals:

• Determine where and when herbicide spraying occurs, and what plant species are being treated
• Determine if the herbicide spraying is affecting spruce grouse populations