Ruffed grouse population is threatened
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A nasty mosquito-borne virus and warming temperatures might be pushing the range of the ruffed grouse north. If the trend continues, Pennsylvania could lose populations of its state bird.
Separate reports suggest different reasons for drastic declines of grouse and its habitat mate, woodcock.
The Game Commission’s 2017 report to the General Assembly reported that grouse populations had fallen to their lowest level in 50 years. West Nile virus was suggested as a cause.
“West Nile virus is transmitted to birds through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected by biting infected birds,” states a web page published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Some birds that are predators (such as hawks and owls) or scavengers (such as crows) may become infected after eating sick or dead birds that were already infected with West Nile virus.”
Since 1999, when West Nile was discovered in the United States, the virus has been detected in over 300 species of birds, including ruffed grouse. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds or mosquitoes
“There is no evidence that a person can get infected from handling live or dead infected birds,” stated the CDC site. “However, you should avoid bare-handed contact when handling any dead animal.”
In a conservation effort, the Game Commission cut the 2016-17 post-Christmas grouse hunting season, explaining that winter game birds that survived West Nile were weeks from breeding.
The Game Commission report also suggested that habitat loss could be contributing to the loss of grouse. The National Audubon Society blamed the habitat depletion on warming temperatures. In a climate report, Audubon predicted the ruffed grouse would lose 34 percent of its breeding range by 2080.
“Across both seasons the climate range is projected to drift north to the extent that it may no longer occur in the Lower 48 by the end of the century,” the report stated. “Whether the forests it depends on will expand THIS WEEK: Should public money be used to prevent the continued population decrease of Pennsylvania’s state bird, the ruffed grouse? • Yes • No LAST WEEK: Legal hunting hours for spring gobblers change midway through the season to protect hens sitting on nests, according to the state Game Commission. Should that regulation continue? Yes 801 responses The poll is an unscientific tally of web postings generated by CivicScience. northward, too, remains to be seen.”
Last week the Game Commission and state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced the expansion of a campaign they say has created some 1,000 acres of new grouse and woodcock habitat per year since 2011.
Both birds require young dense forests. Grouse favor grape tangles and thick wooded areas with nearby stands of mature trees. Woodcock like shrubby thickets in soggy lowlands with populations of worms.
Lisa Williams, a Game Commission game birds biologist, said in a statement that from 1980 to 2005 Pennsylvania lost about 30 percent of its young forestland and declines continue. Just 5 percent of the state’s fore s t s are considered “young” — up to 19 years old — according to 2014 forest data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Cross Creek carp
State Fish and Boat Commission biologists said a viral infection caused the recent death of hundreds of carp at Washington County’s Cross Creek Lake.
Pymatuning cribs
No
Volunteers middle schoolage and older are needed to help the Pymatuning Lake Association to build and place 125 fish habitat cribs. The group meets 8:30 a.m. June 14 at the Pymatuning State Park Ohio boat launch off Pymatuning Lake Road. Details at 724-418-1501 or www.Pymatun-ingLake.