were at the low of their cycle, which indicates that they rely on sphagm.

num bog for nesting cover when their numbers are reduced. It probably 
also indicates that originally their chief habitat in wisconsin was the 
sphagnum bog. Later they spread into the cutover lands in northern 
Wisconsin which have a sparse vegetation, due to frequent burning. 
A sparse, dry vegetation seems to be the deciding factor in determining 
the range of the sharp-tailed grouse. The sphagnu, although damp beneath

is dry on the surfpce. During wet weather the grouse could live on top 
of the dense mats of leatherleaf which grows extensively in most bogs. 
In the West the sharp-tailed grouse is more of a plains bird than a 
prairie bird. It inhabited western North Dakota, western South Dakota, 
eastern Wyoming, Kansas, and Nebraska. Since settlement it has moved 
eastward, probably due to cultivation, which has resulted in a sparser 
vegetation than formerly occurred. In Iowa the sharp-tail nested only 
in sandy areas where the vegetation was sparse, while the prairie chicken

nested in the dense grass. It is probable that the sharp-tailed grouse 
did not nest in the original prairie areas of Wisconsin as they were 
probably mostly of the dense grass type. Note also that the sharp-tailed

grouse occurred in northeastern Illinois, which is the only part of the 
State that has sphagnum bogs. 
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