Grouse encounters of the personal kind

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By Jeff Swystun

My wildlife encounters have been more fun than scary. Once a fox licked the back of my leg. A large, plump white hare sat on my foot as I admired a pond. A deer mistook my finger for a carrot in our backyard. A pack of wolves ran parallel to me in Mont Tremblant National Park. And a thick, five-foot-long snake, which I swear must have escaped from a zoo, once slithered across my path.

This May, it was a new experience. My wife and I took a trek in the woods neighbouring our property. It is full of old logging roads and curious sights. We saw an ancient, discarded Skidoo trailer made from an old home-heating oil tank and a strange structure resembling the set from The Blair Witch Project.

©Jeff Swystun

As we walked, a noise came from our right. It was a grouse shadowing us. The small game bird stuck just off the path seeking the camouflage and protection of the bushes and trees.

Our new friend was quite pleased to join us. The grouse broke proper social distancing. It followed like a pet or close companion.

At one point, I sat down and it came to my side and investigated my hand. One of my movements startled the bird, and I received a peck for my lack of gracefulness. This upset was short-lived and we continued on together. The grouse continued chatting all along the way.

My wife and I lamented that neither of us had brought our phones to document this encounter. So, we started home and our companion followed for a time but then fell back.

I decided to return and repeat the hike, hoping to catch up with the grouse again, while my wife readied gauze and bandages.

It turns out, this grouse is far from shy and loves a camera. I quickly re-established our relationship and we spent over a half hour chatting. She is a huge talker and playful (I believe it is a “she” based on what I have read). She lunged at me twice, but it was half-hearted and more in jest. She enjoys circling right around me as I sit and even hopped on my back.

According to my desktop research, this behaviour is unusual, but not rare. Some grouses have entered cars and homes in the presence of humans. A video on the Internet shows a grouse hopping on the barrel of a hunter’s shotgun.

I have learned that grouse do not migrate, but live their entire life within a few hectares. Our new friend and neighbour is true to this; she walks with us and hits her territorial limit. She has a great deal to say and share. So, we let her do the talking. A grouse can fly but prefers to walk, apparently with us. We enjoy it too and look forward to our next encounter.

 

More from this author by clicking on his picture below.

Jeff Swystun

 

Jeff Swystun46 Posts

Conférencier prolifique et écrivain, Jeff a donné plus de 115 conférences dans 25 pays. L'expertise de Jeff en matière de stratégie d'entreprise, de stratégie de marque et de marketing a mené à l'ouverture de Swystun Communications en 2012. / A prolific speaker and writer, Jeff has appeared at over 115 conferences in over 25 countries. Jeff’s expertise in business strategy, branding and marketing led to the opening of Swystun Communications in 2012. SC is a boutique agency focused on the intersection of business and brand strategy.

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