I’m sure most people are familiar with the ruffed grouse, especially since it’s been our state bird since 1931.

These days, spotting grouse seems less likely since grouse numbers have declined due to loss of habitat and a disease known as West Nile Virus.

Those of us who have hunted grouse over the years are very aware of its thunderous flush when encountered on a hunt or when you unknowingly walk by one when walking through the woods. Our encounters with grouse are almost always sudden and surprising in nature, and any different behavior is quick to come to our attention, and that’s why I’m writing this piece now.

Over the past couple of years, I have had several grouse encounters that are entirely opposite of what’s normally expected.

I was driving up a dirt road that winds through the woods not far from my home a couple of years ago. As I rounded a turn, I noticed a grouse in the middle of the road, so I pulled over to allow it to get across the road. When it refused to move, I got out of my truck and walked towards the grouse, expecting it to frantically take off. Not only did the grouse not flee but instead, it walked cautiously toward me. Over the next fifteen minutes, the grouse stayed right near me and came right up to my outreached hand several times. When I left, it was still standing near the middle of the road.

Last year I walked over to get my mail, and on the way back through my front yard, I spotted a grouse walking in my direction — highly unusual, I thought. What’s even more surprising is I was able to walk up to within a couple of feet of the bird and follow it through the yard and across the road. Once on the other side of the road, I actually reached down and picked up the grouse, at which point it took off in what appeared to be perfectly normal flight.

Update. Last week I was again walking through my front yard when I noticed a grouse sitting a couple of feet in front of my rhododendron bush. I slowly walked by the grouse and went into the house, and got my wife. You see my wife Sheila in the photo that accompanies this article as she walked up to within inches of the grouse before it flew a short distance across the road and then disappeared into the brush. What’s interesting is this encounter was at the same location as my encounter the previous year. Was this the same grouse only a year later?

Well, I seriously doubt that these grouse are actually “tame,” but they definitely exhibit less fear of humans, and I’ve read that they may even act aggressively.

Apparently, this behavior has caught the attention of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission, and they are conducting a genetics study in conjunction with Pennsylvania State University. The research is geared toward gaining a better understanding of grouse genetic variations across the state and whether the “tame” behavior is actually linked to genetics.

In the meantime, keep your eyes open for your own encounter. If you do spot such grouse behavior, you are asked to report the sighting to the game commission at grousecomments@pa.gov. Include your name, phone number, date of sighting, location, and a brief description of the encounter. It is hoped that this information will provide further insight into this unusual behavior.