1(12 PARASITISM AND DISEASE IN RUFFED GROUSE 



Grouse found dead in the field may be the victims of mechanical injuries resulting from 

 shooting, being struck by automobiles, or flying into wires, quite as commonly as from 

 disease. I p. 4041 . 



The most frequent cause of death from disease in wild grouse in New York State is the 

 inflammation of the saccular stomach due to infection with a small roundworm parasite, 

 Dispharynx spiralis. This affliction occurs oftener in birds from three to nine months 

 old than in any other age class. Most deaths from this parasitic disease occur during 

 the fall and winter. Ip. 411). 



The stomach worm, Dispharynx, was not found in grouse collected in the Adirondack Moun- 

 tains proper and was infrequently encountered on the periphery of this region although 

 the sow bugs which serve as an intermediate host occur in these areas, (p. 420 I . 



The most common parasite encountered was the large intestinal roundworm, Ascaridia bonasae, 

 which occurred in over one-fifth of the adult birds. No great numbers, however, were 

 found in any one bird and no deleterious effects could be attributed to its presence, 

 (p. 410). 



Some parasites, such as the large intestinal roundworm (Ascaridia) , are found throughout 

 the State, while others, the crop worm (Capillaria) for example, are found in limited 

 areas only. (p. 413) . 



Bird ticks were found to be more abundant in the Adirondack region than in the rest of the 

 State. In that region more birds were infested and more ticks occurred on each para- 

 sitized bird than in other regions of the State, (p. 413). 



Hand-reared grouse are markedly susceptible to blackhead and '"quail disease"' (ulcerative en- 

 teritis) — the former common to domestic fowl and turkeys. Present grouse propagation 

 methods, however, are effective in keeping these diseases from causing more than occa- 

 sional losses among hand-reared birds, (p. 435). 



Both the hunter and scientist have become increasingly interested in the healtli of the grouse. 

 The so-called "Grouse Disease" and cycles have been publicized to the extent that they are 

 generally accepted as facts. 



The study of grouse diseases and their relation to the fluctuating number of the birds in 

 the coverts, as well as the causes and effects of the diseases and how they might be controlled, 

 has been one of the major assignments of the Investigation. 



Such research is of j)articular importance to the sportsman as it sheds light on many of 

 the question.s paramount to his interest in the grouse. Each year a number of outdoorsmcn 

 discover, for the first time, that their favorite game bird is infected by various parasites. It 

 comes as rather a shock, so they send them to the State Research Center for identification and 

 information. Or they find weak, sick-looking individuals which they fear might have a dread 

 disease. What is the malady, how does it affect their hunting, and what can be done about 

 it? Every nimrod would like to know because, to him. it is of vital concern. 



The research worker studying disease is equally interested in the distribution and relative 



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