Decreasing Ruffed Grouse Habitat

The male Ruffed Grouse’s ideal mating habitat is dwindling. In the 1980s and 1990s the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Wildlife Bureau recognized that our forests were changing drastically. In 2005, they developed “Forest Wildlife Stewardship Plans” which are long-term plans which look at inventory for what we have for forest resources (trees and shrubs), developing objectives for that particular area, and writing prescriptions for forest management for the needed habitats for wildlife. According to these management inventories, in the 1970s or 1980s young forest habitats for Ruffed Grouse and other birds measured 25-45%. In 2010, only 1-3% of this young forest habitat was available after maturing forests caused decline of the Ruffed Grouse. To increase bird habitat, an effort is underway to expand and create new young forest. For the Ruffed Grouse, a critical step is cutting down mature Aspen trees to create early successional habitat. New seedlings will sprout from the root systems of the mature Aspen trees that are cut down. This will create the necessary habitat for wildlife species that need a young forest. Other trees needed for an ideal habitat include Red Cedars, Young Oak, Hazelnut, Dogwood, and Plum. Shrubs provide not only shelter from predators but also a food source from the berries they produce. Private landowners can help by bringing young forests onto their land and help bring the Ruffed Grouse Habitat back.

Possible Guiding, Compelling and/or Anchoring Questions

• What physical components of the ecosystem appear to change over the last several decades?
• Why is the Ruffed Grouse Habitat a concern to wildlife biologists?
• What is the relationship between the number of Ruffed Grouse and the percentage of available habitat?

Classroom Suggestions

• List evidence from the video that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
• Research evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affects populations. Support the evidence with scientific reasoning.
• Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect the Ruffed Grouse populations (or organisms in general).

Related Resources

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Birds of North America: The provides Ruffed Grouse background including male drumming information.
• Ames Tribune: "Iowa grouse population a stump of its former self": This September 2014 article discusses the cause and concern for lack of grouse in Iowa.
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Forest Stewardship Plans: This website includes plans for selected Wildlife Management Areas developed to help guide forest management. For plans specifically mentioning the Ruffed Grouse, see specifically “North Bear Forest” and “North Bear ‘2’”.