Date: 1/21/26 3:11 am From: Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] State Wildlife Action Plan
Hi Brenna,
You mention Roughed, Spruce and Sage Grouse in your email. Do you mean Roughed and Spruce?
I “hunt” Roughed Grouse, which means my dog and I flush them and I shoot approximately 3 per ten years if I’m fortunate. In Richmond, I think there are no Spruce Grouse. I’ve never seen one here or, for that matter, anywhere in VT. They look distinctly different to me, but I can understand how one might confuse them. I didn’t think there were any instances of Sage Grouse this far east.
Thanks for your thoughtful message.
Kind regards,
Jared
Sent from my irresistible flat thing.
> On Jan 20, 2026, at 21:32, Brenna <dbgaldenzi...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> As a group of folks who share a passion for birds, it's important for us to
> be aware of Vermont Fish & Wildlife's state wildlife action plan.
>
> Ruffed and spruce grouse are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation
> Need (SGCN). Spruce grouse are listed as a high priority and there is no
> hunting season on them. Even though ruffed grouse are listed as a medium
> priority SGCN, VT F&W still allows a very generous hunting season that
> lasts three months and allows hunters to possess eight sage grouse DAILY.
>
> The problem is that it's next to impossible to differentiate between a
> ruffed and a sage grouse in the field. F&W needs to close the season for
> ruffed grouse to protect the imperiled spruce grouse.
>
> Vermont's Spruce Grouse population is very small, state-endangered, and
> exists in an isolated area (Nulhegan Basin in Essex County), with estimates
> fluctuating from around 100 to 300 birds, facing threats from habitat loss
> and fragmentation.
>
> You can read the Wildlife Action Plan here:
> https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/sites/fishandwildlife/files/documents/About%20Us/Budget%20and%20Planning/WAP2025/6.%20SGCN%20Lists%20%26%20Taxa%20Conservation%20Summaries%20(2025%20Draft).pdf >
> You can share your concerns here:
> https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=O5O0IK26PEOcAnDtzHVZxihNRyJb-odNvvBQA0ZXNFlUQVhYVU1ZT08xNkk4QkRZN1FVSUlTUEtSMC4u&route=shorturl > I had only been reviewing mammal species since that's my area of
> focus/expertise, but when a colleague raised the spruce grouse concern, I
> took a look and shared his concern. Maybe you will as well.
>
> Brenna Galdenzi
>
> *President*
> *Protect Our Wildlife **POW *
>
> *A Vermont Non Profit Organization*
>
> *www.ProtectOurWildlifeVT.org <http://www.ProtectOurWildlifeVT.org>* >
>
> *Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if
> we help shall they be saved.*
> ~Jane Goodall
