YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — According to Yellowstone National Park (YNP), the ruffed grouse has a “savvy” way of using the snow to its advantage.
In a Facebook post last month, YNP writes that ruffed grouse plunge into the soft snow during snowstorms to create cozy cavities that shield them from the harsh cold and predators.
When they emerge, fleshy nubs on the sides of their toes help them walk over the new snow, similar to how snowshoes help people walk on fresh powder. Those nubs, known as pectinations, grow in the autumn and resemble combs. According to the National Audubon Society, these pectinations nearly double each foot’s surface area.
In the spring/summer, YNP reports these pectinations fall off, since they’re not needed during the absence of snow.
YNP bird biologist David Haines tells Buckrail that there is currently not an estimate for how many ruffed grouse are in the Park. According to Haines, surveys in YNP don’t provide the data needed to quantify the local population.
