Date: 1/22/26 9:50 am From: Sue Wetmore <000006207b3956ac-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] State Wildlife Action Plan
Moose Bog east of Island Pond is one place to find spruce grouse.
Sue Wetmore
Sent from my iPod
> On Jan 22, 2026, at 12:28 PM, Jared Katz <000003825c43bc1a-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> Hi Brenna,
>
> Thanks for clarifying. I would love to see a Spruce Grouse. I also would have no problem reducing the bag limit of Roughed Grouse though, in my experience, I would be under any limit. I am absolutely in favor of protection and conservation over hunting.
>
> Jared
>
>> On Jan 21, 2026, at 8:14 AM, Brenna <dbgaldenzi...> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Jared,
>> Sage was a typo. Spruce grouse are found in a few pockets in Essex County. Perhaps prohibiting hunting of ruffed there would protect spruce from being mistaken.
>>
>> Also, it seems that Vermonts bag limit on ruffed exceeds neighboring states but that’s a separate issue.
>>
>> Brenna
>> www.ProtectOurWildlifeVT.org
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone, which has been known to mess with me.
>>
>>>> On Jan 21, 2026, at 6:11 AM, Jared Katz <jdkatzvt...> wrote:
>>>
>>> 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
