BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 1, 2022
You would think a ruffed grouse would know better. After all, they are without doubt Maine’s most popular game bird. Just about every carnivore bigger than a shrew thinks they are tasty. A ruffed grouse should know enough to stay away from danger. So why is a grouse following Tyson McHatten around his Orono yard? A ruffed grouse typically defends a territory of up to 10 acres. That means that a grouse in the woods can easily consider your yard to be part of his domain. We’re about six weeks away from drumming season. I suspect Tyson will see his pugnacious grouse again very soon. ~ Bob Duchesne