I "had" a Ruffed Grouse once on the Chewelah Christmas Count very near
the 49 N ski area at ca 5000 feet. It was in an alder thicket, so
appropriate habitat wise but I was hoping for a Spruce Grouse up there.

Gene Hunn.

On Wed, 30 Aug 1995, Jim Elder wrote:

> On Tue, 29 Aug 1995, Dennis Paulson wrote:
>
> > > A final highlight were 4-6 (some may have been repeats) Ruffed
> > >Grouse near Dose Meadows, which I believe was recently named in honor of
> > >Jerry Garcia :-) This area is near the head of the valley at 4400'
> > >elevation. I would have expected Blue Grouse but that's not what is
> > >there. Does this strike other people as high for Ruffed Grouse in this area?
> > >
> > > Jim Elder
> >
> > Yes it does, very much so. What kind of habitat?
> >
>
> This area is alternating subalpine meadows (imagine columbines and cow
> parsnip) alternating with forest. By this point in the valley the forest
> sections are mostly fir and mountain hemlock but Douglas fir/western
> hemlock forests reach almost this high in this valley. Interspersed in
> here is stands of slide alder, mountain ash, and there may have been vine
> maple as well. The grouse themselves were in edge habitats where you
> would have a hard time categorizing it as any of the above three. They
> were not in the middle of the meadows or in the middle of the forest
> though they were in the middle of the trail. In short the habitat they
> were in was perfectly suitable for either grouse or was within easy
> walking range (for a grouse) of habitat that was perfectly suitable.
> Incidentally I didn't hear any Blue Grouse either.
>