May 21, 2018
Contacts: Charlotte Roy, grouse project leader, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 218-328-8876 Mark Witecha, upland wildlife ecologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 608-267-7861 Kelly Straka, state wildlife veterinarian, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 517-336-5030
Great Lakes states to collaborate on West
Nile virus monitoring in ruffed grouse
A
region-wide effort to better understand West Nile virus in ruffed grouse is
getting underway in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“In the Great Lakes Region, West Nile virus has been
found in a small number of grouse with no known population-level effects at
this point,” said Charlotte Roy,
grouse project leader with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
“Still, we want to let hunters know we’re in the first steps of monitoring the
virus, and we’re planning to do some limited testing of birds this fall.”
In 2017, West Nile virus was
identified in more ruffed grouse in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin than in the past. The virus has been
present in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin for about 17 years.
West Nile virus has been
documented in more than 250 species of birds; however, not all birds develop
clinical disease from the virus. Corvids
(including blue jays and crows) are very prone to illness and death from the
virus, while other species may be less so or may not develop symptoms at all.
Last year, Michigan had 12
positive cases of West Nile virus in ruffed grouse. Prior to 2017, only one
positive ruffed grouse had been found in Michigan, and that was in 2002. The
virus was confirmed in one ruffed grouse in the early 2000s in Minnesota, and
is yet to have been detected in a Wisconsin ruffed grouse.
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West Nile virus in ruffed
grouse has become a topic of concern because of a recent study in Pennsylvania
reporting that the virus may have contributed to population declines in areas
of lower-quality habitat or where habitat was scarce.
Michigan, Minnesota, and
Wisconsin are in the early stages of planning to test samples from grouse this
fall but at this point, there is no evidence that the virus is having a
population-level impact in the Great Lakes region.
“By monitoring birds at a
regional level, we will be able to gain a better understanding of this disease
in ruffed grouse,” said Kelly Straka, state wildlife veterinarian with the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Ruffed grouse are hunted
annually by around 300,000 hunters across the three states. Preliminary reports
from 2017 hunters were mixed across the Great Lakes region. While the virus
could impact brood survival of grouse, other factors such as cold, wet springs
during nesting and hatching; drought conditions; or habitat decline can also
affect birds seen and harvested.
Biologists in the region are
optimistic that the great habitat for ruffed grouse in the Great Lakes states
will help populations thrive despite the virus.
“We are looking to hunters
and outdoor enthusiasts to help us in this endeavor,” said Mark Witecha, upland
wildlife ecologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “This is
an excellent example of agencies and organizations taking a proactive approach and
working together to expand our knowledge about West Nile virus and ruffed
grouse.”
Recently, the Midwest Association
of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Health Committee held their annual meeting in
Traverse City, Michigan. WNV was one of
the topics for state wildlife health leaders. Over 25 wildlife health professionals from 13 midwestern states and
Canada were in attendance.
Individual agencies are
currently reviewing ways they will be monitoring their grouse populations for
WNV, and additional information will be shared when more details are
determined.
Like humans, wild animals
can be exposed to WNV and survive the exposure. Currently, there is no evidence
of humans becoming infected by consuming properly cooked birds or by handling
birds. Research has shown dogs can be infected but are very resistant to
developing clinical signs of the disease and are considered an end host.
Ruffed grouse hunting is open in the
fall, and hunting information can be found at michigan.gov/hunting.
/Note to editors: Logos for the Department of Natural Resources in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are available below for download./
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