Number 9

Distributed in furtheranceof the acts of Congress ofMay 8 and June 30, 1914.Employment and program

opportunities are offered toall people regardless of

race, color, national origin,sex, age, or disability.

North Carolina StateUniversity, North CarolinaA & T State University, USDepartment of Agriculture,

and local governments

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS

The Ruffed Grouse is a majorupland game bird found primarily inthe Appalachians and theCumberland Plateau. Usually foundabove 2,000 feet in the southernportion of their range, they havealso been found at lower elevations.

Grouse typically inhabit thickets,brushland, and forests of ruggedmountains and canyon-linedplateaus. Grouse requires earlystages of forest succession.Interspersion and a variety of timberclasses enhance the quality ofruffed grouse habitat. Ruffed grouseprosper in even-aged woodlandsthat have frequent thinning andshort rotations.

Home RangeMost adult male grouse aregenerally stationary, and have ahome range of 10 to 50 acres.Females with broods, however, willrange over 40 to 100 acres. Homerange is determined by the quality offood, water, and cover. Habitatquality, not hunting, limits grousedensities.

WaterGrouse fulfill their water needs fromdew and succulent plants. Standingwater is not necessary.

North CarolinaCooperative Extension ServiceNorth Carolina State UniversityCollege of Agriculture & Life SciencesCollege of Forest Resources

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Ruffed Grouse Foods

Spring

Apple Shadbush Yellow BirchSumac Strawberry Hop-hornbeamCatkins Laurel

Summer

Insects Black Cherry RaspberryBlackberry Dewberry StrawberryMulberry Jewelweed PartridgeberryCrataegus Succulent Forage

Fall

Apple Crataegus ViburnumBeech Huckleberry SumacBirch Dogwood GrapesAcorns

Winter

Birch Hop-hornbeam GrapesApple Acorns GreenbriarHazelnut Sumac LaurelClover Hepatica Teaberry

FoodGrouse are primarily plant eaters. Althoughmostly browsers of woody plants, twigs, andbuds, they also like to feed on fleshy fruits.Insects are essential food for broods from lateMay through July. Grouse are opportunisticfeeders, having more than 300 plant species onwhich to feed. Listed below are some of theirfavorite foods by season.

N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

CoverThe major cover requirements are for escape,nesting, brooding and winter protection.Interspersion of cover types is very important.

Escape cover is provided by thickets,vine tangles, young timber, and dense shrubs- the thicker, the better.

Nesting cover is generally secondgrowth, fairly dense hardwoods where theundergrowth is sparse and located nearbrood-feeding grounds. About three-fourthsof the nests are located within 100 feet of anopening, and near drumming sites.*

*Drumming sites are decayed logs or prominent rockson which a male beats his wings for a mating call.

Brooding cover is characterized byforbs, grasses, low shrubs, and insectproduction. Overgrown lands, recent cut-overareas, and areas of sparse overstory crowncover are premium brood range.

Winter cover usually consists ofevergreens such as laurel, greenbriar, andrhododendron, or small, dense youngconifers. Regenerated hardwood stands (3 to20 years old) can also provide excellent wintercover.

Working With Wildlife # 9 - Ruffed Grouse

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RUFFED GROUSE

AGE

COVER

TIPS FOR IMPROVING RUFFED GROUSE HABITAT

General:♦ Regenerate small stands (10 - 40 acres)♦ Distribute regeneration cuts throughout the tract to maintain interspersion♦ Avoid extensive stands of even-aged, single stand management♦ Limit prescribed burns to winter months

Direct Improvements:♦ Plant roads and logging decks with white clover and orchard grass♦ Thin around fruit and nut trees for crown growth and more food production♦ Establish small, dense evergreen patches for winter cover♦ Create openings in areas where they are lacking

Species That Benefit from Ruffed Grouse ManagementNumerous game and nongame species with similar habitat requirements benefit fromgrouse management. Rather than focusing solely on grouse, management plans shouldemphasize the communities of which grouse are a part. Grouse associates include:

Black Bear White-tailed Deer Rabbits Foxes Songbirds

Prepared by: Edwin J. Jones, Department Extension Leader, Mark A. Megalos, Extension Forestry Specialist,Michael S. Mitchell, Graduate Research Assistant

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Cost share assistance may be available through the Stewardship Incentive Program forthese practices. See your Wildlife Biologist, Forester, or Extension Agent for moreinformation about the Forest Stewardship Program.

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Other Wildlife Notes Available:No. 1 - Endangered Species No. 14 - Snags and Downed LogsNo. 2 - Eastern Gray Squirrel No. 15 - Managing Edges for WildlifeNo. 3 - White-tailed Deer No. 16 - Building Songbird BoxesNo. 4 - Songbirds No. 17 - Woodland Wildlife Nest BoxesNo. 5 - Wild Turkey No. 18 - Low Cost Habitat ImprovementsNo. 6 - Wood Duck No. 19 - Pools for AmphibiansNo. 7 - Cottontail Rabbit No. 20 - Hummingbirds and ButterfliesNo. 8 - Bobwhite Quail No. 21 - BatsNo. 9 - Ruffed Grouse No. 22 - OwlsNo. 10 - Black Bear No. 23 - Managing Beaver PondsNo. 11 - Raccoon No. 24 - Herbaceous Plants for WildlifeNo. 12 - Mourning Dove No. 25 - SIP Wildlife OpportunitiesNo. 13 - Wildlife Terms

FOREST STEWARDSHIPa cooperative program for

improving and maintaining all of theresources on private forestland

-94-4M-WWW-9