LANSING — The ruffed grouse West Nile virus surveillance project will enter its second year this fall. The collaborative study began in 2018, between Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of Natural Resources and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study group.

The study is being conducted to learn more about West Nile virus exposure and infection in ruffed grouse in the Great Lakes region. Recently, WNV has become a topic of interest due to a rise in ruffed grouse testing positive for the disease. A study in Pennsylvania recently reported that WNV may have contributed to population declines in areas of lower-quality habitat or where habitat was scarce.

In 2017, WNV was identified in 12 ruffed grouse in Michigan. The virus was confirmed in one ruffed grouse in the early 2000s in Minnesota and detected in Wisconsin ruffed grouse in 2018.

Each state has a targeted sampling region and goal. During the 2018 grouse season, Michigan received 209 of the 400 desired samples, from select counties in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. The Michigan DNR has not documented any unexpected declines in grouse populations across the state and has no data to suggest the state’s populations are in peril.

To obtain sample test kits, contact Julie Melotti at the Wildlife Disease Lab at melottij@michigan.gov or 517-336-5042. If you find a sick or dead grouse, record the location and date and if possible, get the bird to a nearby DNR office. People also may report sick or dead wildlife at https://secure1.state.mi.us/ors/Survey/4.