Strangely Tame Ruffed Grouse (1 Viewer)

[WMcLean]

At our place in the Poconos there is a male Ruffed Grouse who has been visiting with the humans quite strangely this year. I encountered him yesterday. He wouldn't budge from the middle of the road, even when shooed. He wouldn't move, except when I moved very close as if to catch hiim. Then he fluffed up his ruff and fanned his tail and flapped at me. By being extremely overbearing, I got him off to the side and went back to my car...but when I glanced over my shoulder he was right behind me!!!

I maneuvered around him, but when I looked in the rear-view mirror he was chasing my car down the middle of the road!

Other folks have said that he tries to get into their cars, hangs around while they are eating, etc.

What do you suppose his story is? Sickness? Eccentricity? Anybody encounter this sort of thing in wild grouse before?

 

[KC Foggin]

Sounds as though it might have been reared by a human or is there possibly a nest nearby that you are not aware of?

 

[Tammie]

A nest was the first thing I thought of too although we have come across many ruffies in the wild that were quite approachable.

The behaviour you describe doesn't necessarily mean it's acting tame so much as it could be trying to chase you away!

 

[WMcLean]

This grouse resides at a private hunting and fishing club consisting of about 10,000 acres of land. There are surely many nests on the property. No grouse are raised on site, unlike the quail and pheasants that are raised for hunting.

THe grouse has been approaching families at one picnic spot all summer. He was quite happy to peck around in the road in front of my car, with me standing over him. He didn't want to leave the road. He did get annoyed when I "herded" him away and that is probably why he chased me .

He is very odd. No one at the club remembers any grouse acting like this in the past.

 

[Tammie]

And where is your camera when he's acting like this???? :-O

This grouse resides at a private hunting and fishing club consisting of about 10,000 acres of land. There are surely many nests on the property. No grouse are raised on site, unlike the quail and pheasants that are raised for hunting.

THe grouse has been approaching families at one picnic spot all summer. He was quite happy to peck around in the road in front of my car, with me standing over him. He didn't want to leave the road. He did get annoyed when I "herded" him away and that is probably why he chased me .

He is very odd. No one at the club remembers any grouse acting like this in the past.

 

[WMcLean]

And where is your camera when he's acting like this???? :-O

I was kicking myself!!! I could have had THE BEST shots!! He even fanned out his tail for me and....no camera. Rats!!!

 

[Tammie]

That'll teach ya!! Always have your camera with you. That should be a birder's mantra!

I was kicking myself!!! I could have had THE BEST shots!! He even fanned out his tail for me and....no camera. Rats!!!