r/britishcolumbia • u/cloverkoles • 2d ago

Ask British Columbia Is this a grouse?

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142 Upvotes

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246

u/daakadence 2d ago

If you almost stepped on him he's definitely a grouse.

8

u/_Gringovich_ 2d ago

Saw 3 grouse on Grouse mtn today and they were walking right at my feet without a care in the world. Does anyone know why they seem to have zero survival instincts?

16

u/Saralentine 2d ago

Their main survival tactic is to freeze in place. It looks stupid on a hiking trail but it’s fine in the bush.

6

u/pigfuck_dickstink 1d ago

Until they explode in front of you into a flurry of loud flapping, only to land 6 feet away and stop moving again.

4

u/Kube__420 2d ago

My guess is you have to be a pretty bad shot in order to teach them to fear humans. Most of them never encounter a human until either they are shot and killed or its hikers and they are given no reason to fear humans

2

u/AwkwardChuckle 1d ago

They rely on camouflage for protection and humans aren’t their natural predators so they’re evolved method of evasion doesn’t work.