Summer Stewardship, Had Us a Blast

Like many of you, we’ve had a busy season out in the woods! Summer is in full swing, and for foresters, that means long days in the field—often solo, and always full of surprises.

During a recent staff meeting, we realized we’d all recently had run-ins with some of the small-but-mighty critters that call these forests home. When you spend enough time outside, you’re bound to collect a few memorable stories.

We asked some of our team members to share some of these encounters. Here’s what they had to say.

Chase and the Grouse Standoff

While working in the forest near Yelm, Chase was enjoying a quiet lunch when he had the distinct feeling he was being watched. A quick glance around confirmed it—a grouse was just a few feet away, staring him down.

This was no ordinary grouse. Bold and territorial, it strutted toward Chase, pecking at his boots and gear, clearly asserting its dominance. But as Chase observed the bird’s display, he noticed it was struggling with one of its wings. Concerned (and a little charmed), he gently wrapped the grouse in his fleece and placed it in his backpack, intending to bring it to a wildlife rehabilitation center.

The bird remained calm as Chase finished up his fieldwork. But before heading back to his vehicle, Chase opened the backpack to check on his unexpected companion—and out it flew, seemingly fully recovered and no longer in need of rescue.

That might have been the end of the story, but it wasn’t. In the weeks since that late-spring encounter, both NNRG and Nisqually Land Trust staff have reported similar run-ins with a feisty grouse in the same patch of forest. The brave little bird has earned a bit of a reputation—and now, staff know to keep an eye out when walking these woods.

Take a look at the feisty grouse:

If you’ve spoken with Kirk or read A Forest of Your Own, this feisty grouse’s story might sound familiar. Some grouse pack plenty of attitude into their small stature — as Kirk learned during an encounter on his own property (though the grouse likely thought it was his). You can read more about Kirk’s grouse adventure in Chapter 17 of A Forest of Your Own.

Barrett and the Elusive Rodent

I encountered my first mountain beaver recently while doing fieldwork near Lake Whatcom. The elusive rodent darted out onto the trail, startling me—and itself. It quickly disappeared back into the vegetation, but then slowly reemerged and crossed the trail right in front of me. Mountain beavers are common across western Washington, but they’re nocturnal and spend most of their time in burrows, so they’re hard to spot. It was really cool to see one in the wild!

Lauren and the Sandwich Thief

Though not as recent, I had a run-in with a surprisingly bold ground squirrel while hiking in Zion National Park. The year was 2021—It was hot, and I was tired after hiking for several hours. I decided it was time for lunch, and found a viewpoint to sit at and admire the scenery. All was peaceful. I took off my backpack, unpacked my food, and placed my sandwich beside me while I scrolled through some of the photos I had taken.

Big mistake.

In the brief moment I looked away, a ground squirrel darted up and got ahold of my sandwich bag. I grabbed the bag just in time, but the little guy held on for a moment, clearly used to people and unfazed by my presence. For a brief moment in time, I was playing tug of war with a squirrel.

Note: Please don’t feed wildlife—this squirrel’s cuteness masks some real risks to both animals and people when they get too comfortable with human food!

Cozy Critter Condos

While working in a family-owned forest near Gig Harbor, Jaal Mann spotted this raccoon hideaway. The forest recently underwent an ecological thinning managed by NNRG — but don’t worry, this cozy tree stayed right where it is!

Do you have a story from the woods? We’d love to hear it! Send us a message at outreach@nnrg.org, and your tale might be featured in a future edition.