Why are there fewer ruffed grouse today than in the 1960s and 1970s?
Several different survey efforts (U.S. Geological Survey’s Breeding Bird Survey, New York State Breeding Bird Atlas) support what grouse hunters have know for a long time – there has been a drastic decline in grouse numbers over the past 40 years. Breeding Bird Survey data indicate that ruffed grouse populations in New York have declined by more than 75% since the 1960s, or about – 4.7%/year. Many factors drive changes in wildlife population distribution and abundance. For ruffed grouse in New York the primary reason for population declines is habitat quantity and quality. During the 1960s and 70s, many agricultural lands that had been abandoned were reverting to young forests – ideal habitat for ruffed grouse. Today, these forests have reached maturity, a less than ideal condition for grouse, woodcock, and other birds that require early successional habitats. Where we see the greatest population densities for grouse tends to be in areas where there is good habitat such as agricultural
