Assist the Michigan DNR with West Nile study

This recently came in from the Michigan DNR; it is intended for those who hunt in the specifically named counties and regularly harvest five or more grouse between September 15 and November 14:

You may have recently seen or heard about the Michigan Department of Natural Resources fall study collecting hunter harvested grouse for West Nile virus testing. We are collaborating with the Minnesota DNR, the Wisconsin DNR, and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study to understand what impact, if any, West Nile virus is having on ruffed grouse in the Upper Great Lakes region.  Our goal is to collected 400 samples (100 each from 4 regions in the state) which include the following counties in the Upper Peninsula: Dickinson, Iron, Marquette and Chippewa, Luce, Mackinaw and the Lower Peninsula: Alpena, Montmorency, Presque Isle and Missaukee, Ogemaw, Roscommon. [Again, if you hunt in those counties only].

Hunters that commit to participating in this study will need to submit:

*   a brief information sheet about the harvest
*   a blood sample from the bird in the field
*   the breasted out carcass.

After you’ve read the detailed collection instructions and feel you can make a commitment to help, please email us with your mailing address and the number of kits being requested (one kit per grouse).  We plan to start distributing kits at the end of this month.

Any questions can be directed to: Melottij@michigan.gov.