A Wild Companion in Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

         Movement.  A shadowy figure darting among the trees.  What sort of creature could be lurking there?  I’m alone, skiing the rim trail in Cedar Breaks National Monument.  Cautious now, I ski from the meadow toward the spruce forest and stop to peer into the understory.

With relief I see it’s only a Blue Grouse, scurrying over twigs and downed logs.  I call out:  “Hello Blue, what are you up to on this fine day?”  To my surprise he saunters up to me, stands on my skis, cocks his head and casts a suspicious look my way.

Blue is wondering who I am, and why do I have
these boards strapped to my feet?

          “Blue”, I say, “it’s time for me to move on.”  I slowly kick-glide away and Blue jumps off my skis, but he keeps pace with me, walking alongside, clucking, cooing and hooting as we travel another 50 yards.  Blue stops where the trail breaks into the open and watches me as I ski on to the canyon overlook.  I admire the view, snap a few photos and ponder the grouse.  “What was that all about?”  If nothing else, it was an unusual experience.

View into Cedar Breaks Canyon from overlook.

         I turn and retrace my route.   When I reach the point on the trail where Blue and I had parted company, I glance into the forest and wonder aloud:  “Blue are you still here?”  In the next instant I hear flapping and clucking and Blue is flying through the forest, only to land in front of me on the trail.  And again, for the next 50 yards he keeps pace with me, walking over, around and on my skis as I climb the hill.  Then he stops and I continue on, glancing over my shoulder every so often to make sure he’s not following me.

That afternoon I meet up with Tim as he’s finishing his downhill runs at nearby Brian Head Ski Resort.  “You’ll never guess what happened to me today.  I skied part of the rim trail with a Blue Grouse.”

The following morning Tim skis the Cedar Breaks trail with me; we arrive at the forest’s edge and Blue is waiting—he immediately hops up to me and coos as if to say “I knew you’d be back.”  And then he does something unexpected: he jumps at both my legs, nipping and pulling at the fabric of my ski pants.  Alarmed, I shoo him away with my ski poles and he doesn’t attack again, but still follows close-by on the next 100 feet of trail.  We ski on, but upon our return Blue is waiting.  He accompanies me as I ski and he’s more agitated than yesterday, as if delivering a message I had somehow failed to understand the first time.  

We ski away from Blue and I try to reassure him:  “Don’t worry Blue, we’re leaving, going home today, we won’t bother you anymore.”  And with that, Blue turns and disappears into the woods, his shadowy figure alone once more.

Blue has just "attacked" my legs!  I'm ready
to shoo him off with my poles.

Blue accompanies Rita on the trail
in Cedar Breaks National Monument.

                                                             ****

Later, in the comfort of my own home and far from the prying eyes of a Blue Grouse, I research grouse behavior on the internet.  I discover this is the beginning of mating season for these game birds and the male Blue Grouse is quite territorial—defending his patch of woodland from all intruders.  I tell Tim that Blue must have perceived me as an invader, encroaching on his territory, disturbing his plans.  Tim's alternative interpretation:  Blue was more amorous than annoyed!  In any case, "Sorry Blue." 

Read more about the Blue Grouse here:  http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Birds/Pages/DuskyGrouse.aspx

Interested in visiting Cedar Breaks National Monument?  Visit this website: http://www.utah.com/nationalsites/cedar_breaks.htm