Evaluating Ruffed Grouse Reintroduction in Missouri

Abstract

The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) was almost extirpated in Missouri in the early 1900's, probably because of habitat destruction through repeated burning and overgrazing. An attempt to reintroduce grouse during the 1940's failed. Since then, improved habitat conditions for forest game warranted other attempts. Wild-trapped birds from Ohio and Indiana were released in Missouri on the Ashland Wildlife Research Area, Boone County; and Daniel Boone Memorial Forest, Warren County. Thirty-nine grouse were released in 1959 at Ashland and 18 on the Boone Forest. Subsequent releases brought the Ashland Area total to 119 birds and the Boone Forest total to 143. For evaluating results of reintroduction, data were obtained during eight breeding seasons, 1960-67. Thirty-six drumming activity centers were found at Ashland, 1962-67, and 26 on the Daniel Boone Forest, 1961-67. Reproduction at Ashland was confirmed in 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966 by catches of young grouse; and four unbanded drumming males, evidently progeny of the released birds, were trapped. Ruffed grouse appear to be established on both areas, but densities are low and occupancy of range beyond the release areas has been limited. Missouri is on the southwestern edge of the known ruffed grouse range. Early reports cited by McKinley (1960) are contradictory, but Missouri grouse populations were perhaps never as high nor as uniformly distributed as in states to the north and east. Nevertheless, ruffed grouse were once present throughout most of the state and were common in some localities until 1900. By the early 1930's grouse were reported from only 19 counties and probably totaled fewer than 100 birds (Bennitt and Nagel 1937:41). They continued to decline, and the last authenticated observation was made in Warren County in 1956, by J. B. Lewis. Although native ruffed grouse reached very low levels, it is doubtful that they were extirpated. Efforts to reestablish grouse in Missouri were made in 1940-43. Birds obtained from the Sandhill Game Farm, Inc., Babcock, Wisconsin, were released on three refuges in the southern Ozark region of the state. These birds persisted for some time, but finally disappeared. An evaluation of these early releases was not made, and nothing is known about the reason for their failure. Missouri's forest game habitat has improved in the last 20 years. As a result, it has been possible to restore white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) to much of the original range (Murphy 1965:142, Lewis 1961:507, 509). Encouraged by the improved prospects for forest game, the Missouri Department of Conservation initiated an experimental ruffed grouse reintroduction program on two central Missouri areas in 1959. Wild grouse trapped in southern Indiana and Ohio (at the latitude of central Missouri) were used as stock in the new program. These regions appeared to be the best potential source of grouse, considering habitat and climate. The purpose of this paper is to report 8 years' data on survival, dispersal, and reproduction of these released birds, and to 'A contribution from Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Project 13-R-19, Missouri Department of Conservation, and from the Missouri Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit: U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Wildlife Management Institute, Missouri Department of Conservation, and University of Missouri cooperating. 2 Present address: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks.