Ruffed Grouse Could Be Added To Indiana Endangered Species List

Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 11:45 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

The roughed grouse's habitat in young forests has been diminished.

Ruffed grouse. Photo by Seabamirum, Flickr.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Indiana may be adding a native bird to the list of those endangered.

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission recommended Tuesday that the ruffed grouse be added to the state’s list of endangered birds.

Young forest habitat has been shrinking for the grouse. Once found in nearly half of Indiana counties, the bird is now only observed in a few.

Hoosiers haven't been able to hunt ruffed grouse since 2015, a suspension which will continue. The endangered bird status would further its protections, keeping it from being hunted or trapped for sport or commercial use.

The NRC was moved to further protect the species after the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society submitted a letter to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Got Input Period last year. The organizations are asking for significant and science-based forest management that could help the species.

As a result of the NRC’s decision this week, the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife will present rule language for preliminary adoption by the NRC in the future.