Ruffed Grouse Research Articles

Comparison of soil eDNA to camera traps for assessing mammal and bird community composition and site use.

Species detections often vary depending on the survey methods employed. Some species may go undetected when using only one approach in community-level inventory and monitoring programs, which has management and conservation implications. We conducted a comparative study of terrestrial mammal and bird detections in the spring and summer of 2021 by placing camera traps at 30 locations across a large military installation in northern Michigan, USA and testing replicate soil samples from these sites for environmental DNA (eDNA) using an established vertebrate metabarcoding assay. We detected a total of 48 taxa from both survey methods: 26 mammalian taxa (excluding humans, 24 to species and two to genus) and 22 avian taxa (21 to species and one to genus). We detected a relatively even distribution of mammalian taxa on cameras (17) and via eDNA analysis (15), with seven taxa detected from both methods. Most medium-to-large carnivores were detected only on cameras, whereas semi-fossorial small mammals were detected only via eDNA analysis. We detected higher bird diversity with camera traps (18 taxa) compared to eDNA analysis (eight taxa; four taxa were detected with both methods), but cameras alone were most effective at detecting smaller birds that frequently occupy arboreal environments. We also used Bayesian spatial occupancy models for two widely distributed game species (white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, and ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus) that were moderately detected with both survey methods and found species-specific site use (occupancy) estimates were similar between cameras and eDNA analysis. Concordant with similar studies, our findings suggest that a combination of camera trap and eDNA surveys could be most useful for assessing the composition of terrestrial mammal communities. Camera traps may be most efficient for assessing bird diversity but can be complemented with eDNA analysis, particularly for species that spend considerable time on the ground.

Christmas Bird Count data are a reliable harvest-independent index for Ruffed Grouse monitoring in the eastern United States

Abstract Using data from the mid-1990s to the present, we assessed correlations of Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) hunter cooperator reports from seven states to Breeding Bird Survey, Christmas Bird Count, and eBird data to determine which program’s trends best reflected patterns seen in hunter-sourced data that has historically been used for monitoring purposes. Christmas Bird Count data most closely reflected state-wide long-term trends in cooperator flush rates. Using an analytical approach that accounts for sources of bias and examines abundance at a finer spatial scale, we observed a pattern of decline across our study area. In recent decades, Ruffed Grouse populations in the eastern United States are thought to have suffered persistent declines due to a combination of young forest habitat loss and West Nile virus mortality. Declining hunter participation in much of the species’ range has highlighted the need to identify harvest-independent indices of grouse abundance to enable continued monitoring of regional long-term trends. Recent analytical methods can better capture complex trends in population dynamics, account for biases inherent to community-sourced data, and potentially inform designs of future survey efforts aimed at fulfilling priority monitoring and research needs. Comparable results across varying statistical methodologies suggest that our inferences are robust, demonstrating that Christmas Bird Count data can be used to inform regional monitoring efforts for grouse and other cryptic game bird populations, but require careful consideration of program designs and protocols to identify and implement data appropriately.

A Comparison of Telencephalon Composition among Chickens, Junglefowl, and Wild Galliforms

Introduction: Domestication is the process of modifying animals for human benefit through selective breeding in captivity. One of the traits that often diverges is the size of the brain and its constituent regions; almost all domesticated species have relatively smaller brains and brain regions than their wild ancestors. Although the effects of domestication on the brain have been investigated across a range of both mammal and bird species, almost nothing is known about the neuroanatomical effects of domestication on the world’s most common bird: the chicken (Gallus gallus). Methods: We compared the quantitative neuroanatomy of the telencephalon of white leghorn chickens with red junglefowl, their wild counterpart, and several wild galliform species. We focused specifically on the telencephalon because telencephalic regions typically exhibit the biggest differences in size in domesticate-wild comparisons. Results: Relative telencephalon size was larger in chickens than in junglefowl and ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). The relative size of telencephalic regions did not differ between chickens and junglefowl, but did differ in comparison with ruffed grouse. Ruffed grouse had larger hyperpallia and smaller entopallial, nidopallial, and striatal volumes than chickens and junglefowl. Multivariate analyses that included an additional three wild grouse species corroborated these findings: chicken and junglefowl have relatively larger nidopallial and striatal volumes than grouse. Conversely, the mesopallial and hyperpallial volumes tended to be relatively smaller in chickens and junglefowl. Conclusion: From this suite of comparisons, we conclude that chickens do not follow a pattern of widespread decreases in telencephalic region sizes that is often viewed as typical of domestication. Instead, chickens have undergone a mosaic of changes with some regions increasing and others decreasing in size, and there are few differences between chickens and junglefowl.

Forest structure mediates occupancy and extinction of vertebrate prey species on the trailing edge of the boreal forest

Climate change is expected to shift the distributions of global biomes. High latitude biomes, such as the boreal forest, are among the most vulnerable and serve as a bellwether for the effects of climate change on other ecosystems. We examined patterns of occupancy, local extinction, and abundance in a guild of forest-associated vertebrate prey species on the southern margin of the boreal forest in Minnesota (USA). We used multi-season, multi-state, and multi-species occupancy modeling approaches to determine the effects of land cover, forest structural characteristics, and climatic variation on two boreal-associated species, spruce grouse (Canachites canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), and a forest generalist, ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). Occupancy, abundance, and extinction of spruce grouse was strongly associated with landscape-scale characteristics. In particular, deciduous forest cover may govern their southern range limit. Broadly, forest understory structure played a significant role in occupancy, extinction, and abundance patterns of all three species, with ruffed and spruce grouse generally associated with vegetation density in the lower and mid-canopy layer (5.00–15.00 m) and snowshoe hare associated with density in the shrub layer (1.37–5.00 m) in winter. Co-occurrence varied annually but was greatest in mixed forests during an uncharacteristically warm and snow-sparse year. Climatic variables (winter temperature and snowfall) were associated with extinction probabilities for all three species, but the effect was generally weaker than that of forest structure. Our results suggest that forest management practices that promote dense understory structure may help provide climate refugia for vertebrate prey species in boreal forest ecosystems.

Survival of a polymorphic species in seasonally snow‐covered forests

Color polymorphism is an adaptive strategy in which a species exhibits multiple color phenotypes in a population. Often, phenotypes are variably suited to different environmental conditions which may buffer the population against variable conditions. Modern climate change is creating novel selective pressures for many species, especially in winter habitats. Few studies have quantified the benefits of polymorphism for allowing species to cope with climate‐induced environmental change, particularly for species with more cryptic differences between morphs. We investigated how color polymorphism mediates selective pressures in ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus, a winter‐adapted bird species of North American forests. Ruffed grouse display phenotypic variation in plumage color, ranging from red to gray. Over five winters (2015–2022), we monitored weather conditions, habitat use, and weekly survival for 94 grouse to test whether individuals had lower survival when phenotypically mismatched with snow cover (e.g. a gray bird on a snowless landscape or a red bird in snow). Grouse phenotypically mismatched with snow cover had lower survival, but only when winter survival rates were lowest. During winters of lower overall survival, red grouse exhibited higher survival during snow‐free periods, whereas gray grouse had higher survival when snow was present. We also found that open habitat negatively impacted survival, regardless of color. While the effect of phenotypic mismatch was variable among years, it was a stronger predictor of survival than land cover, suggesting that snow is an important habitat feature mediating overwinter survival. Our work offers an advancement in understanding how environmental variability affects geographic variation in and maintenance of multiple color phenotypes in seasonally‐snow covered environments. Our finding that interactions between color morph and snow cover are important for conferring winter survival provides further evidence that color polymorphism may serve as a buffer against rapidly changing conditions and a pathway for persistence of polymorphic species.Keywords: Bonasa umbellus, color polymorphism, phenotypic mismatch, ruffed grouse, winter ecology, Wisconsin

Whole genome assessment of a declining game bird reveals cryptic genetic structure and insights for population management.

Population genomics applied to game species conservation can help delineate management units, ensure appropriate harvest levels and identify populations needing genetic rescue to safeguard their adaptive potential. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is rapidly declining in much of the eastern USA due to a combination of forest maturation and habitat fragmentation. More recently, mortality from West Nile Virus may have affected connectivity of local populations; however, genetic approaches have never explicitly investigated this issue. In this study, we sequenced 54 individual low-coverage (~5X) grouse genomes to characterize population structure, assess migration rates across the landscape to detect potential barriers to gene flow and identify genomic regions with high differentiation. We identified two genomic clusters with no clear geographic correlation, with large blocks of genomic differentiation associated with chromosomes 4 and 20, likely due to chromosomal inversions. After excluding these putative inversions from the data set, we found weak but nonsignificant signals of population subdivision. Estimated gene flow revealed reduced rates of migration in areas with extensive habitat fragmentation and increased genetic connectivity in areas with less habitat fragmentation. Our findings provide a benchmark for wildlife managers to compare and scale the genetic diversity and structure of ruffed grouse populations in Pennsylvania and across the eastern USA, and we also reveal structural variation in the grouse genome that requires further study to understand its possible effects on individual fitness and population distribution.

Habitat and climatic associations of climate-sensitive species along a southern range boundary.

Climate change and habitat loss are recognized as important drivers of shifts in wildlife species' geographic distributions. While often considered independently, there is considerable overlap between these drivers, and understanding how they contribute to range shifts can predict future species assemblages and inform effective management. Our objective was to evaluate the impacts of habitat, climatic, and anthropogenic effects on the distributions of climate-sensitive vertebrates along a southern range boundary in Northern Michigan, USA. We combined multiple sources of occurrence data, including harvest and citizen-science data, then used hierarchical Bayesian spatial models to determine habitat and climatic associations for four climate-sensitive vertebrate species (American marten [Martes americana], snowshoe hare [Lepus americanus], ruffed grouse [Bonasa umbellus] and moose [Alces alces]). We used total basal area of at-risk forest types to represent habitat, and temperature and winter habitat indices to represent climate. Marten associated with upland spruce-fir and lowland riparian forest types, hares with lowland conifer and aspen-birch, grouse with lowland riparian hardwoods, and moose with upland spruce-fir. Species differed in climatic drivers with hares positively associated with cooler annual temperatures, moose with cooler summer temperatures and grouse with colder winter temperatures. Contrary to expectations, temperature variables outperformed winter habitat indices. Model performance varied greatly among species, as did predicted distributions along the southern edge of the Northwoods region. As multiple species were associated with lowland riparian and upland spruce-fir habitats, these results provide potential for efficient prioritization of habitat management. Both direct and indirect effects from climate change are likely to impact the distribution of climate-sensitive species in the future and the use of multiple data types and sources in the modelling of species distributions can result in more accurate predictions resulting in improved management at policy-relevant scales.

Snow cover constrains the behavioural flexibility of a winter‐adapted bird

Behavioural flexibility is an important way in which animals respond to changing environmental conditions. During winter, snow cover is an important seasonal refuge that provides thermal insulation and protects overwintering species from predators. However, snow depth and quality can be highly variable throughout winter and it is unclear how species that use snow cover adjust their behaviour with changing winter conditions and in complex landscapes. During winter months, Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus spend a large portion of time roosting in trees, understorey and, in some cases, subnivean environments. Importantly, the ability to roost under snow has been associated with reduced stress levels and increased overwinter survival. Across three winters, we studied plasticity of roosting behaviour across a diversity of winter conditions and land‐cover types. In line with predictions, Grouse were more likely to use snow burrows when snow was deep and powdery, and experienced higher temperatures in snow roosts compared to other roost types. However, snow roosting behaviour did not vary strongly across land‐cover types, and Grouse were not more likely to use snow burrows at lower temperatures, potentially because snow roosting may serve to protect them from predators regardless of winter weather conditions. Both the snow conditions necessary for snow roosting and the occurrence of snow roosting behaviour were relatively rare during our 3‐year study (only 3% of all roosts were snow burrows). Loss of winter refugia due to warming winters and declining snow cover may limit the use of behavioural flexibility for winter‐adapted species to cope with environmental change.

Comparison of Pathology and Immunohistochemistry in Natural and Experimental West Nile Virus Infections in Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus).

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) populations have declined in much of the eastern US in recent decades. Research suggests that West Nile virus (WNV) contributed to these declines, based on decreasing population indices temporally correlated to WNV introduction into North America, high morbidity and mortality in experimentally infected Ruffed Grouse, and relatively low statewide seroprevalence concurrent with high WNV vector indices. We describe lesions and relevant diagnostic findings in six, free-ranging Ruffed Grouse that directly or indirectly died of natural WNV infection and compare results to experimentally infected Ruffed Grouse. All naturally infected grouse were found moribund or dead from August to December 2015-18 in the northeastern US; 4/6 grouse were subadults. Necropsy, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and/or ancillary tests contributed to the diagnosis of WNV-associated disease in all cases. The most common lesions in naturally infected grouse were myocardial inflammation, degeneration, and/or necrosis, consistent with lesions in experimentally infected grouse. Evidence of trauma in 6/6 naturally infected grouse suggests the possibility of WNV-associated morbidity as a predisposing factor. Diagnostic findings in 3/6 naturally infected grouse were consistent with experimentally infected grouse with severe disease 7-8 d postinoculation; the remaining naturally infected birds had similar findings to experimentally infected subclinical grouse. Our results further support the notion that WNV contributes to mortality of free-ranging Ruffed Grouse and may be used to improve surveillance strategies and population-level management approaches.

Automated recognition of ruffed grouse drumming in field recordings

AbstractRuffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) populations are declining throughout their range, which has prompted efforts to understand drivers of the decline. Ruffed grouse monitoring efforts often rely on acoustic drumming surveys, in which a surveyor listens for the distinctive drumming sound that male ruffed grouse produce during the breeding season. Field‐based drumming surveys can fail to detect ruffed grouse when the birds drum infrequently or irregularly, making this species an excellent candidate for remote acoustic sensing with automated recording units (ARUs). An accurate automated recognition method for ruffed grouse drumming could enable effective and efficient use of ARU data for monitoring efforts; however, no such tool is currently available. Here we develop an automated method for detecting ruffed grouse drumming in audio recordings. Our detector uses a signal processing pipeline designed to recognize the accelerating pattern of drumming. We show that the automated recognition method accurately and efficiently detects drumming events in a set of labeled ARU field recordings. In a case study with 56 locations in Central Pennsylvania, we compared detections of ruffed grouse from 4 survey methods: field‐based acoustic drumming surveys, surveys conducted by humans listening to ARU recordings, and automated recognition for both a 1‐day and a 28‐day period. Field‐based surveys detected drumming at 9 of 56 locations (16%), while surveys conducted by humans listening to ARU recordings detected drumming at 8 locations (14%). Using automated recognition, the 1‐day recording period produced detections at 17 locations (30%) and the 28‐day recording period produced detections at 34 locations (61%). Our case study supports the idea that automated recognition can unlock the value of ARU datasets by temporally expanding the survey period. We provide an open‐source Python implementation of the recognition method to support further use in ruffed grouse monitoring efforts.

Ruffed grouse do not exhibit high potential for reservoir competency of common tick‐borne pathogens

Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) are ground-dwelling forest birds found throughout New Brunswick, and likely act as an alternative host for blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), which are vectors for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Other Galliformes are parasitized by Ixodes spp. and some are competent reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens. Thus, we sought to identify ruffed grouse as an alternative host of blacklegged ticks by testing for active and previous infections of tick-borne pathogens. We tested 215 ruffed grouse hearts for active infection of B. burgdorferi and tested 20 blood samples for antibodies associated with previous B. burgdorferi infections. We failed to detect active, or evidence of previous, B. burgdorferi infections in either sample type. We suggest that our results were limited by the methods of pathogen testing and thus, alternative methods should be investigated.

Locally Procured Wild Game Culinary Trends in the US: A Study of the Ruffed Grouse as Entrée and Accompanying Nutritional Analysis

Wild-caught foods including game and fish can be part of a local, sustainable food system. Beneficial environmental, personal health, and nutrition claims are often linked to locally-sourced foods. Yet, because many species of wild game and fish that are legal to hunt or catch do not have nutrient data in the USDA food composition database these claims, especially in the realm of nutrition, are not well substantiated. To address this gap, the Cornell research team collaborated with USDA scientists to address shortcomings in nutrition information for several wild game and fish species, in this case Ruffed Grouse. A wildlife biologist with the Ruffed Grouse Society collected bird samples according to USDA-determined collection protocols to obtain edible meat portions. Nutrient analysis was conducted on raw Ruffed Grouse breast meat samples at USDA-validated laboratories using approved quality assurance procedures. Analytical data were sent to NDL scientists, who reviewed and compiled the data into full nutrient profiles for Ruffed Grouse which were made available in the USDA food composition database. This new nutritional information supplements the already-well-appreciated epicurean qualities of the Ruffed Grouse and contributes to the complex social construction of the notion of hunted food as gourmet entrée.

Our current understanding of West Nile virus in upland game birds

AbstractSince its introduction to the United States in 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) rapidly spread and is now endemic throughout much of North America. West Nile virus has impacted many North American birds, including suspected population‐level declines. However, the potential effects of WNV on upland game bird species remain largely unknown. We reviewed the published literature on WNV infection in upland game birds, with the majority comprised of experimental infection trials, serologic surveys, and natural infection reports. Early WNV research indicated that some species within Galliformes are not susceptible to WNV‐associated disease, but reports were primarily based on studies in domestic fowl with small sample sizes. Research on greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) confirmed both species are highly susceptible to WNV‐associated morbidity and mortality, which highlights the need to better understand the potential effects of WNV on other upland game bird species. Serological data using primarily hunter‐harvested, greater sage‐grouse samples revealed low seroprevalence among several populations, indicating WNV may pose a risk to greater sage‐grouse populations. Currently, data are lacking on the effects of WNV in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), for which low recruitment rates and depressed population numbers have been documented across parts of the eastern United States. Despite low virulence of WNV in experimentally‐infected domestic turkeys, sporadic cases of WNV‐associated morbidity are reported in wild turkeys. Serosurveys that include wild turkeys are limited in number, sample size, and geographic distribution, but available results suggest that a substantial percentage of WNV‐infected wild turkeys survive. Research focused on experimental infection trials, serosurveys, and documenting natural infections, along with land cover and vector studies, are necessary to provide a more complete understanding of the potential population level implications WNV may have on various upland game birds, including wild turkey.

Abundance and distribution of ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus at the southern periphery of the range

Peripheral populations of ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus at the trailing edge of their range are likely to be at risk of population declines and potential extirpation from continued climate and habitat change. Accurate estimates of abundance and distribution are needed for peripheral populations to inform management decisions. We show that ruffed grouse density at the southern periphery of their range is much lower than in areas farther north. We surveyed the abundance of drumming male grouse across northern Georgia during the springs of 2020–2021 by performing roadside point counts at 634 survey points. We used hierarchical distance sampling models to predict grouse abundance across north Georgia and model spatial variation in density. We estimated population size to be 2671 ruffed grouse in Georgia (95% confidence interval 678–11 084). Mean grouse density was 0.003 drumming males/ha (SD = 0.006), with the highest density centered in the high‐elevation mountains. Uncertainty around abundance estimates was high, in part due to low precision when estimating availability. Low detectability and precision are likely to be common issues when surveying low‐abundance populations, as often occurs at range peripheries. We suggest that abundance estimation could be improved by integrating alternate methods, such as automated recording units, into existing monitoring protocols.

Experimental repatriation of snowshoe hares along a southern range boundary reveals historical community interactions

AbstractClimate change is altering interspecific interactions globally, yet community‐level responses are difficult to predict due to both the direct and indirect effects of changing abiotic and biotic conditions. Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) are particularly vulnerable to decreasing snow cover and resultant camouflage mismatch. This species shares a suite of predators with alternative prey species including porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) and ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), and all three species historically exhibited synchronized population dynamics. Recently, the community has become partially disassembled, notably with the loss of snowshoe hares and associated enemy‐mediated indirect interactions resulting from declining snow duration. Specifically, we hypothesized that the extirpation of hares in the early 1990s indirectly increased predation pressure on ruffed grouse and porcupines. To test our hypothesis, we experimentally translocated 96 snowshoe hares to a site within a regional ecotone between northern and southern forests where snowshoe hares were recently extirpated and monitored community members before, during, and after translocation. Ruffed grouse were only loosely associated with the biotic interactions that linked porcupines and snowshoe hares, likely due to predation occurring from avian predators and strong negative direct effects of declining winter snow depths. In contrast, predation of neonate porcupines was virtually non‐existent following repatriation, compared with periods without hares. This abrupt attenuation of predation did not increase overall survival due to increased non‐predation mortality from cold, early spring weather. Porcupines directly benefited from warming winters: decreased snow cover increased adult survival and warmer temperatures around parturition increased maternal condition and reduced non‐predation causes of mortality for neonates. Our experimental manipulation suggests that enemy‐mediated indirect interactions were likely to be important features of this community; however, climate change has disrupted these interactions, resulting in extirpation of a central prey species (snowshoe hare) and increased predation of an alternative prey species (porcupine). We show complex effects from climate change with some species directly and negatively affected, while others benefited from direct effects of warming winters, but suffered negative effects from indirect interactions. Due to absent snowshoe hares and associated biotic interactions, continued persistence of this community module is unlikely, potentially resulting in altered no‐analog communities along trailing edge distributions.

WEST NILE VIRUS EXPOSURE AND INFECTION AMONG HUNTER-HARVESTED RUFFED GROUSE (BONASA UMBELLUS) COHORTS IN A STABLE POPULATION.

West Nile virus (WNV) was introduced to North America two decades ago, but for many species, including Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), the effects of WNV on individuals and populations remain poorly understood. Recent studies suggest the effect of WNV on Ruffed Grouse might vary among geographic regions, depending on habitat conditions. We studied WNV in Minnesota, US, during 2018-19, in a region known to have abundant Ruffed Grouse habitat and a population cycling around a stable long-term average. We worked with cooperating hunters to collect hearts, feathers, and blood on filter strips from birds harvested in the fall to examine exposure to the virus. We detected antibodies to WNV or a flavivirus (probably WNV) in 12.5% and 12.3% of birds in 2018 and 2019, respectively. However, we did not isolate the virus from any heart samples, indicating that exposed birds were not experiencing an active infection of WNV at the time of harvest. Our findings indicate that, although Minnesota Ruffed Grouse are exposed to WNV, some birds mount a successful immune response and survive. However, our sampling approach did not account for birds that might have become infected over the summer and died, so it is unknown how much WNV mortality occurred before the fall harvest. Birds lost to WNV over the summer could reduce the number of birds that hunters see in the fall, thus reducing the quality of their hunting experiences. Management options for mitigating WNV impacts and other stressors consist primarily of providing high-quality Ruffed Grouse habitat that produces birds in good condition that are more likely to recover from infection.

Ubms: An R package for fitting hierarchical occupancy and N‐mixture abundance models in a Bayesian framework

Abstract Obtaining unbiased estimates of wildlife distribution and abundance is an important objective in research and management. Occupancy and N‐mixture abundance models, which correct for imperfect detection, are commonly used for this purpose. Fitting these models in a Bayesian framework has advantages but doing so can be challenging and time‐consuming for many researchers. We developed an R package, ubms, which provides an easy‐to‐use, formula‐based interface for fitting occupancy, N‐mixture abundance and other models in a Bayesian framework using Stan. The package also provides tools for visualizing parameter effects, calculating residuals, assessing goodness‐of‐fit and comparing models. We demonstrate the use of ubms by fitting an N‐mixture model to ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus count data from drumming surveys conducted at roadside points sampled on five occasions annually during 2013–2015. To demonstrate the functionality of ubms, we used survey site as a random effect, and occasion date and per cent aspen cover at each site as covariates of detection and abundance respectively. The top‐ranked model included a positive effect of per cent aspen on grouse abundance. ubms has the potential to greatly increase the range of users who will be able to rigorously assess species distribution and abundance while correcting for imperfect detection in a Bayesian framework.

Characterization of Avian Pox in a Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) from Pennsylvania.

A free-ranging, adult male ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) was harvested by a hunter during November 2019 in Forest County, PA. The bird was submitted for necropsy due to a skin mass on its left leg. Upon necropsy, two proliferative skin masses were grossly visible, one on the left leg and one on the cere. An additional mass was present on the oropharyngeal mucosa covering the hard palate. These masses were diagnosed as avian pox based on histopathologic and cytologic findings, including marked epithelial hypertrophy, hyperplasia, vacuolar degeneration with eosinophilic stippling, and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies. An avipoxvirus was detected using PCR and was identified as fowlpox virus through sequencing of the 4b core gene segment. The avipoxvirus from this case showed genetic similarity to isolates from Eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris).

The effect of small (1-ha), 10-year rotational clear cuts on oak regeneration in Pennsylvania and Michigan

Abstract: We examined oak regeneration in small (2.5-acre [1-ha]) rotational clearcuts in central Pennsylvania and northern Michigan. In central Pennsylvania this approach was initiated to improve habitat for ruffed grouse and other early successional wildlife species, while in Michigan it was used to regenerate oak under harsh environmental site conditions associated with sandy soils and early frosts. In our study areas most of the small clearcut stands had greater oak regeneration than was found in a large 39.5-acre (16-ha) clearcuts. In particular, 10-year-old 2.5-acre (1-ha) clearcut stands located within a landscape of previous rotational cuts and remnant mature forest had adequate advanced oak regeneration compared with other age classes. We demonstrate that oak regeneration can be achieved within this type of landscape due to the availability of seed source within small clearcuts from adjacent forest and the reduction of herbivory by white-tailed deer due to an overall availability of plant resources. Therefore, if a rotational clearcut cycle is maintained over time, early successional wildlife habitat can be maintained while the objectives of forest regeneration are met. This type of forest management may be particularly applicable in areas where fire cannot be used to regenerate oak.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in Visibly Affected Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, USA.

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) infects many avian species but has rarely been described in Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus). Between September and December 2019, 40 Ruffed Grouse, most in poor physical condition, were submitted to the Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota (US) Departments of Natural Resources; eight were positive for EEEV.