The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s (ADF&G) Small Game Program is looking for volunteers to assist with Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus) surveys in Juneau, Alaska this spring.
Every spring male sooty grouse or “hooters” take to the upper reaches of the forest canopy and begin their courtship ritual to attract females by producing a low “hooting” sound. These courtship rituals are useful to biologists as they make males conspicuous and enable observers to collect information on relative abundance of the species through annual surveys.
Surveys are conducted during early morning hours along 8 popular hiking trails around Juneau. Surveys take place during the second week of April through the end of May. All potential volunteers will need to meet with a small game biologist prior to conducting any surveys to discuss survey methodology. For 2026 the Small Game Program Coordinator plans to be in Juneau to train staff and volunteers (and to conduct surveys) from 7-9 April and hopes that a few volunteers will join her for an early morning survey. Therefore, to assist with sooty grouse surveys in 2026 volunteers will need to be able to meet during that short window. These are annual surveys, so if those dates don’t work for you, please consider getting involved in 2027.
All survey gear will be provided by ADF&G. As a final note, volunteers are a large part of the success of ADF&G’s Small Game Program and staff thank you for considering volunteering with our program. Enthusiastic volunteers are awesome! Please feel free to contact the Small Game Program Coordinator, Cameron Carroll, either via email at cameron.carroll@alaska.gov or by phone at (907) 459-7237 with questions.
**Thank you to the volunteers that helped in 2025. Your efforts were very much appreciated and we hope you join us again in 2026.**
