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Forage
Forage Extension Program
Blue Grouse
Habitat Management Suggestions
for Selected Wildlife Species
By R.J. Mackie, R.F. Batchelor, M.E. Majerus, J.P. Weigand,
and V.P. Sundberg
"Adult
grouse subsist almost entirely on needles from
November through March." |
The range of the blue grouse is closely associated
with the distribution patterns of true firs and Douglas-fir
in the western states. Its range more closely conforms
with that of the Douglas-fir than any other conifer.
This is probably a reflection of both species being
closely adapted to a common climatic and plant community
type rather than any likelihood of the blue grouse’s
being closely dependent on Douglas-fir.
Regardless of season, there appears to be a fairly
close relationship between food and cover, and this
is especially noticeable in winter when conifers furnish
both. During this period, blue grouse migrate to higher
elevations within conifer stands, feeding essentially
on conifer needles. In summer, lower elevations are
preferred where seeds, leaves, fruits, and insects make
up their diet.
Food
Blue grouse feed extensively on green leaves, flower
heads, seeds, fruits, conifer needles and buds, and
insects during the spring, summer, and fall. Their winter
diet consists almost entirely of conifer needles and
buds, although some fruits and seeds are eaten when
available. Animal foods comprise about 10 percent of
the summer diet--chiefly ants, beetles, and grasshoppers.
The food of chicks is 70 to 100 percent insects through
the first month, followed by berries into September.
The following foods are utilized by blue grouse:
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Green leaves, blades, flower heads, or seeds of
clovers,
dandelion, peavine, vetch and bluegrass.
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Fruits of bearberry, elderberry, huckleberry, currant,
raspberry, serviceberry, snowberry and strawberry.
Cover
Although the blue grouse depends heavily on coniferous
cover, its preferred habitat also includes a number
of deciduous tree species, shrubs, and forbs. Foremost
among the broadleaf trees is aspen.
Primary wintering needs of blue grouse appear to be
sufficient trees to provide roosting and escape cover
and a supply of needles and buds from such trees as
fir, larch, and Douglas-fir as a source of food. Adult
grouse subsist almost entirely on needles from November
through March. Where both Douglas-fir and true firs
are present, true firs appear to be preferred by blue
grouse. Larches may be used until their needles are
shed.
Habitat Management Suggestions
Grazing
Deferred or moderate grazing preserves nesting, feeding,
and brood cover. Fenced exclosures, particularly around
water sources, protect vegetative cover, food, and water.
Clear cutting, if used in blocks of 60 acres or less,
may be beneficial to blue grouse, for it, likewise,
opens the forest canopy, provides opportunity for regeneration
of new thickets, as well as openings for brood rearing.
Following logging, reseeding of skid trails and roads
with adapted grasses and legumes provides succulent
forage for grouse from spring to early fall. Species
of value include orchardgrass, the bluegrasses, smooth
and mountain bromegrass and the clovers.
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