Weird Grouse Behavior

[SledNeck]

Okay. Was driving in the woods today and I seen 2 grouse on the road and one of the grouse was sitting in a little pot hole laying flat and covered in dirt. As I drove up it got out of the hole, shook off the dirt and ran away.

weird

[Greybeard53]

Sounds like maybe it was either "anting" or "dusting".

Sometimes they'll use dirt to dry or fluff their feathers, and birds will also lay in the dirt and let ants clean them.

[life=outdoors92]

Sounds like maybe it was either "anting" or "dusting".

Sometimes they'll use dirt to dry or fluff their feathers, and birds will also lay in the dirt and let ants clean them.

right on the money.

[SledNeck]

Of the tens of thousands of grouse Ive seen in my life thats the first time Ive ever seen that.

[Greg Clusiau]

I've seen that a few times up here. Always makes me chuckle, to see how dusty they can get.

[fivebucks]

Saw a turkey do it in our fire pit last year. That was funny looking.

[leech~~]

Of the tens of thousands of grouse Ive seen in my life thats the first time Ive ever seen that.

Um, tens of thousands of grouse you've seen and it looks like your tag says from the Iron Range. Note-to-self. Plan on Fall Grouse hunt in the Iron Range!

I think the birds are trying to keep bugs off them much like a lot of other critters do this time of year.

[laker1]

Seen turkeys and grouse dusting theirselves

[RumRiverRat]

Classic Dusting Behavior.

[tacklejunkie]

I had a grouse one spring follow me when I was walking down a trail in full display.

[life=outdoors92]

I had a grouse one spring follow me when I was walking down a trail in full display.

if you want some more fun like that, during drumming season, fire up a push lawn power. most put out a drum like sound and i have had on plenty of occasions where a nearby grouse will come into the yard all puffed up and looked for a bird making that sound.