Date: 1/22/26 4:29 pm From: Mark Marroni <mjmarroni...> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] State Wildlife Action Plan
Jared
To add to Sue's comments, I have seen SPGR at Moose Bog and also along
Peanut Dam Road in the Silvio O. Conte NWR.
Mark Marroni
978-689-6940
On Thu, 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
>
