Ep. 19 - Who Is the REAL King of Spring, the Ruffed Grouse or the Wild Turkey?

Ep. 19 - Who Is the REAL King of Spring, the Ruffed Grouse or the Wild Turkey?

In this week's episode, have a light-hearted but educational debate with our friend and conservationist, Brian Banbury, and answer the question, who is the real King of Spring, the Ruffed Grouse or the wild turkey? Strong points were made from both sides for each species, and to determine the winner, we discuss: * Which species is tougher? * Is the ruffed grouse or the wild turkey more emblematic of what it means to be an American? * Does the wild turkey or the Ruffed Grouse have the biggest impact on conservation? * The hunting influence, culture, and difficulty of both the ruffed grouse and wild turkey? * Which is stronger, the thunderous drum of a Ruffed Grouse or the iconic gobble of a wild turkey on a Spring morning? * The table fare of both species. Follow Us On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/give_for_grouse/] Like Us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/GiveforGrouse] Subscribe to our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@GiveforGrouse] Ruffed Grouse Billboard [https://appalachianhabitat.org/grouse]

Ep. 18 - Canadian Ruffed Grouse and Forest Management with Ruffed Grouse Society Canada

In this week's episode, we catch up with our friends from the North, Mark Symes and Andrew Lowles, of Ruffed Grouse Society Canada, to learn about the ruffed grouse and forest management in Canada. Both coming from backgrounds in science, biology, and forestry, Mark and Andrew provide us with a unique outlook and perspective on the challenges and opportunities that RGS Canada faces in conserving a species like the ruffed grouse in a country where populations are abundant. We discuss: * How RGS Canada can learn from our mistakes in the US regarding the management of ruffed grouse and our forests. * The difficult nature of creating an organization to advocate for a species like the ruffed grouse, where populations are plentiful. * The social licensing and public perception of logging and forest management in Canada. * The forest product market in Canada and how their forests are managed differently in the different forest ecosystems across the country. * Is the future of forest management and logging brighter in Canada than it is in the United States? Become a Member of RGS Canada [https://www.rgs.ca/] RGS Canada Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rgs.canada/] RGS Canada Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553396845714] Follow Us On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/give_for_grouse/] Like Us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/GiveforGrouse] Subscribe to our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@GiveforGrouse] Ruffed Grouse Billboard [https://appalachianhabitat.org/grouse]

Ep. 17 - Biology of the Ruffed Grouse with Wildlife Biologist Dr. Karl Malcolm

In this week's episode, we have the pleasure of discussing ruffed grouse and forest management with wildlife biologist Dr. Karl Malcolm. A gifted communicator and educator, Karl gives us an incredible education and offers a perspective and insight that only a biologist, scientist, and wildlife professional can. In this episode, we discuss: * First, who is the real King of Spring, the wild turkey or the ruffed grouse? * The future of the US Forest Service is in question, given the recent changes by the administration. * Breeding behavior and physiology of ruffed grouse. * West Nile Virus can have on ruffed grouse and how a healthy forest ecosystem and good habitat can offset it's impact. * The social licensing and public perception of forest management and logging, and how we can better communicate the positive impacts. * How nonnative invasive species can disrupt native habitats and how they impact specialist species like ruffed grouse. * The impacts of high deer densities on ruffed grouse. * The unlikely relationship between the extinct passenger pigeon, ruffed grouse, and young forest habitats. Follow Us On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/give_for_grouse/] Like Us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/GiveforGrouse] Subscribe to our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@GiveforGrouse] Ruffed Grouse Billboard [https://appalachianhabitat.org/grouse]

Ep. 16 - Catching Up On All Things Grouse!

In this week's episode, we catch up and discuss some of the things we've learned about ruffed grouse since we started the Give for Grouse Initiative, and we talk about some of the guests we've had and what we've learned from them. From the nuances of forest management to filming and photographing grouse, we talk about a little bit of everything in this episode! Follow Us On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/give_for_grouse/] Like Us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/GiveforGrouse] Subscribe to our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@GiveforGrouse] Ruffed Grouse Billboard [https://appalachianhabitat.org/grouse]

Ep. 15 - How to Love a Forest with Ethan Tapper

In this week's episode, we borrow the title of guest Ethan Tapper's award-winning book and discuss How to Love a Forest. Ethan is an author, forester, ecologist, and naturalist blessed with an incredible ability to communicate the nuances of forest management, conservation, and our relationships with ecosystems. In this conversation, we discuss: * What does it really mean to take care of our forests? * The difference between a conservationist and a preservationist mindset. * Ethan's thoughts and experience using herbicides as a conservation tool. * The emotional tug of war between cutting a tree, but loving a forest or shooting a deer and yet loving the species. * It takes a sacrifice and compromise to build a healthy forest ecosystem. * Why Ethan loves trees, but loves forests more. * Choosing to do nothing is a bigger act of negligence in conservation than active forest management. * The reality that our forest products market is dying and the impact that has on wildlife. * How Ethan would fix our struggling forest products market, implement landscape-level forest management, and increase our biodiversity. Follow Ethan on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/howtoloveaforest] Follow Ethan on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howtoloveaforest/] Follow Ethan on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@HowToLoveAForest] Follow Us On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/give_for_grouse/] Like Us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/GiveforGrouse] Subscribe to our YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@GiveforGrouse] Ruffed Grouse Billboard [https://appalachianhabitat.org/grouse]