Survival And Habitat Use Of Northern Ruffed Grouse Introduced Into West Tennessee

Sixty ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) trapped in Michigan and Wisconsin were released in Benton County, Tennessee. Trapping, transporting and releasing were accomplished in late August and early September, 1976 and 1977. A total of 567 radio locations were made of 20 telemetered birds, 8 of which survived past their last radio location (I surviving beyond 14 months). Shrubby thickets of laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) were heavily used for cover. By 2 mo. after release, 10 of 14 grouse dispersed more than I km from their release sites. Maximum dispersal was 4.4 km. Home range sizes for II grouse varied from 2 to 497 ha. Home.range size was influenced by the predominant cover type selected.