Ruffed Grouse Winter Habitat Use in Mixed Softwood‐Hardwood Forests, Québec, Canada

Abstract

Abstract: Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is a popular small game species in northeastern North America. We assessed female ruffed grouse habitat characteristics during winter of 2001‐2002 and 2002‐2003 in a region dominated by mixed softwood‐hardwood forests by comparing used and random locations. We followed 23 radiotagged adult females in 2 forest sites of the Réserve faunique de Portneuf, Québec, Canada, from late November to mid‐April. We described grouse habitat using ground surveys and identified selected habitat characteristics using analysis of variance and logistic regression. Females preferred mixed softwood‐hardwood stands > 17 m tall and 61‐120 years old. Compared with random locations, grouse locations had more well‐developed total canopy cover (>4m;75%), canopy (>4m;35%), midstory (1‐4 m tall; 35%), and lower‐story (<1 m tall; 23%) coniferous cover, and higher coniferous stem density and tree basal area (dbh > 9 cm; 343 stems/ha and 9.0 m2/ha, respectively). Forest management should maintain mature mixed softwood‐hardwood stands (50% coniferous), which are adequate winter habitat for ruffed grouse.