The Eastern Grouse Working Group (EGWG), a collective of state and provincial wildlife agency biologists, has developed a strategic plan to guide ruffed grouse recovery in the eastern half of their range. The newly released Eastern Ruffed Grouse Conservation Plan (ERGCP) 2025-2034 outlines critical actions for habitat restoration and conservation efforts over the next decade.

While ruffed grouse are non-migratory, their survival depends on large-scale habitat restoration. Conservation success in one state or province alone is not enough to ensure the long-term stability of ruffed grouse populations across the region. A coordinated, multi-state effort will provide greater ecological, social and economic benefits than isolated habitat management efforts.

Two Decades of Conservation Planning

The ERGCP builds on nearly 20 years of planning. In 2006, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Resident Game Bird Working Group endorsed a Ruffed Grouse Conservation Plan aimed at restoring populations to 1980 levels. Despite this plan, ruffed grouse populations have continued to decline in the eastern region. This prompted state wildlife agency biologists to call for a more strategic, coordinated initiative.

In January 2021, a planning workshop was held to evaluate the biological, social, political and economic conditions affecting ruffed grouse. From this effort, the EGWG identified Desired Future Conditions (DFCs), Current Conditions (CCs), gaps between them, and the barriers and opportunities to closing those gaps. This framework helped guide the development of the new conservation plan.

High-Priority Actions

During a strategic planning workshop in October 2023, EGWG members and key partners identified 21 priority actions necessary to achieve conservation goals. The highest-priority actions include:

• Evaluating the current distribution of quality grouse habitat using standardized methods.
• Identifying priority areas for habitat management based on biological and socio-economic factors.
• Developing and implementing forest ecosystem diversity plans in priority areas.
• Securing and allocating resources for effective grouse habitat management.
• Addressing resource gaps and barriers that hinder conservation efforts.

A Collaborative Approach

No single agency or organization has the resources to implement the ERGCP alone. However, strategic collaboration between states, provinces and conservation partners will create highly effective partnerships and conservation outcomes. Through coordinated efforts, ruffed grouse populations can be stabilized and improved across their eastern range.

The full Eastern Ruffed Grouse Conservation Plan 2025-2034 is available for review and provides detailed strategies for achieving long-term conservation success. Together, we can advance landscape-scale conservation efforts and secure the future of ruffed grouse.

Source: Reina Tyl, Wildlife Biologist – Grouse & Woodcock Program Specialist

Pennsylvania Game Commission | Bureau of Wildlife Management