One annual wildlife survey that we participate in is to monitor trends in the ruffed grouse population. Coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the survey is run by many cooperators across the state each spring. Each year, shortly before the woods start greening up, we drive an established 10-mile survey route. The survey procedure is fairly simple, every mile you stop, shut off the vehicle, and get out to listen for drumming male grouse for a 4 minute period. The information is then returned to the DNR and they compare drumming rates from year to year to monitor trends in the grouse population. Interestingly, ruffed grouse numbers appear to cycle over time with peak populations occurring roughly every 10 years.