Spruce Grouse Restoration in New York

DEC staff have been making progress on restoring the population of spruce grouse in New York by translocating birds from Canada and Maine and working with private landowners to manage habitat. In August 2025, DEC translocated 50 adult spruce grouse from Cochrane, Ontario into the Adirondack Park, concluding our multi-year translocation efforts. DEC staff captured spruce grouse using catch poles, then birds were fed and housed in screen tents until grouse were released in selected sites in New York the following week. The goal of translocations is twofold: to improve genetic diversity of the remaining population and to boost numbers so that birds can find each other to breed. We are hopeful these translocated grouse will bring much needed genetic diversity into the New York population. We are also managing habitat necessary for their success, such as 30-45 year-old coniferous tree stands. These efforts will continue into the future to ensure that spruce grouse have enough habitat to maintain their population.

Comparison of female spruce grouse tail (left) and male spruce grouse tail (right).

To ensure their success, DEC would like to caution grouse hunters to properly identify their targets before they shoot this hunting season, as spruce grouse and ruffed grouse can be easily confused. Spruce grouse (photos above) have brown tail bands on a dark tail, while ruffed grouse (photo below) have black tail bands on a brown tail. Both species are often seen on roadsides in the fall eating gravel to aid in digestion. 

Underside of a ruffed grouse tail.