BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 7, 2026
The ruffed grouse is Pennsylvania’s official state bird, yet its population has declined so dramatically that the bird may disappear altogether. Several states have banned hunting them. Others have listed the birds as threatened or endangered. Yet Maine’s population remains in good shape. Why? Ruffed grouse require young forests, preferably with lots of aspens and birches. The buds and catkins of those trees, supplemented by berries from young shrubs, help the birds survive the winter. In spring, the chicks need plenty of insects for the protein that supports their rapid growth. That ideal habitat precisely describes Maine’s working forest. We have young trees and abundant bugs. ~ Bob Duchesne