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Index of Subjects Hi all: This topic is optimal for me at the moment, as I've been meaning to post something similar for awhile now. I've been told stories of people working in the woods with chain saws and ruffed grouse acting tamely and following the workers around. One man had a ruffed grouse follow him home and it than showed up every day and followed him around. Jill Comolli of Lower Rose Bay has had a number of ruffed grouse encounters with them following her around the yard when she is out and not just one year, but multiple years in a row. Another man had a pet ruffed grouse that when he would call it would come in to him. My most recent report came from Jeanie Oickle. She told me that while she and her brother were putting up Christmas decorations, a ruffed grouse showed up and followed them around. It returned every day and followed whoever else was present. It always follows her when she is taking the composter down or bringing it back up as well. (I'm glad I proof read this as I had put computer rather than composter). Jeanie also told me that her neighbour has a workshop in his garage. He leaves the door open while he is working. One day this ruffed grouse just came walking right into the garage. The neightbour then started to hand feed the ruffed grouse Canada Holly berries. A short while after feeding the ruffed grouse, the neighbour heard a pecking noise on his door. When he opened the house door here was the ruffed grouse. I find these stories facinating, but cannot find any studies as to why ruffed grouse act like this. The aggressive ones certainly could be territorial related. The chain saws and other machinery that is in use or the composter might sound like a ruffed grouse on territory beating his wings. That would make sense and is what I've heard in most cases as a cause for the ruffed grouse actions. This does not explain a lot of the other cases that I've heard of. I would love to have some input from others into this. Also, if anyone knows of any behaviour studies on ruffed grouse that might have looked into these sort of actions I would be very appreciative to hear about them. James R. Hirtle LaHave ________________________________________ From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on behalf of Donna Crossland <dcrossland@eastlink.ca> Sent: March 18, 2016 8:05 PM To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: RE: [NatureNS] more ruffed grouse aggressive behaviour It's fascinating to read about the "aggressive grouse" on the Hemlocks and Hardwoods Trail in Keji. I also encountered such a grouse with this same behaviour on the same trail and have a photo of it pecking on our daughter's backpack. The year was ~2001, so perhaps not the same grouse, but I wonder if this behaviour can be a trait passed down, or is it simply as Helene suggests, hormones. This was the only time I've had a ruffed grouse show such bold and persistent behaviour though I spend a lot of time in the woods in spring. Farther to our north in more fire-influenced country in Kouchibouguac, NB, I became more familiar with the spruce grouse and its bold behaviour. I once had one run up to me and pull at my boot lace, which was the same red color as the eye comb of the spruce grouse and I'd wondered if this had triggered the response. In fact we know this is likely from animal behaviour research. I'm sure that lots of people of spruce grouse stories. During the late-80s, I had the pleasure of encountering a Blue grouse (Dusky grouse) in BC (on Grouse Mountain..., no I am not making this up), and having noticed its bright yellow eye combs, of similar color to my yellow wool mittens, I wondered if I might get a response. The grouse had been boldly following us around on the snow. I took off a mitten and waved it at the grouse and got an immediate reaction. It took the mitten and waved it wildly about in its beak before throwing it down on the snow. (I have too fairly poor quality photos of the grouse and my mitten to back this up!) Donna -----Original Message----- From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of bev wigney Sent: March-18-16 1:07 PM To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] ruffed grouse aggressive behaviour All, I believe this topic came up for discussion a couple of years ago. I reported on my own experience with an unusually aggressive grouse that my late husband and I met along the Hemlock Trail at Kejimkujik NP in August 2007. It began stalking us from a couple or so meters to the side of the trail, ducking under vegetation to keep somewhat hidden while it followed us for some distance. Occasionally, it would get ahead and then rush at us the way an ornery rooster will do. It was particularly aggressive toward our large Rough Collie which, typical of her breed, was a kind old soul who did her best to ignore the angry bird. It ran at each of us a few times too, going for our boots. Bev Wigney, Round Hill, NS On 2016-03-18, at 11:50 AM, Paul Ruggles <cpruggles@eastlink.ca> wrote: > Anyone hear of similar ruffed grouse behaviour?
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