Time for the Grouse to Come Out and Play

Time for the Grouse to Come Out and Play

Two or three times this winter when I was skiing, I jumped back when a rocket shot out of the snow where I nearly missed planting my pole on a grouse that had buried itself to keep warm. Grouse are interesting — they mark their territory and attract a mate by making a loud drumming sound, and they grow funny bristle-like things on their feet to use as snowshoes in winter. Although grouse are usually drumming by now, this year the logs in the forest where you’d hear drumming are still under snow in much of the North Country. Read the full...