Chris Demers of Willington, Connecticut, took this photo a few weeks back after a fresh snowfall. What made these strange marks?
Answer
A ruffed grouse snow roost
Writer Mary Holland had this to say in her recent Outside Story column on the subject:
The ruffed grouse is famous for its winter roosting routine, commonly referred to as “snow roosting.” With no snow, or just a few inches of it, the bird is likely to seek protection in conifer stands. If the snow is soft and a foot or more deep, however, the grouse is likely to spend the night in an insulated, air-filled snow tunnel. The grouse builds this tunnel by first plunging from a tree into the snow. Then with its wings and feet the grouse extends the tunnel, sometimes to as much as 10 feet. This tunnel helps the grouse conserve energy, so it needs less food. Less time spent in the open also means less time being exposed to predators.
This week’s contest winner was Bill Mackowski of Milford, ME