Amorous grouse terrorizes Alberta hikers on popular trail

There's a creaturechasing people through the woodsofsouthern Alberta.

It has sharp talons, yellow eyebrows and stands about 30 centimetres tall.

"I honestly didn't think anything of it," AndreaBarnes told the Calgary Eyeopener.

"Until he started to march towards us. And I mean march. His head was down;his wings were back. He was heading straight for us."

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The bird a dusky grouse, also called ablue grouse has been terrorizing peoplealong the popular Montane Trail near the Town of Canmore.

Alberta Parks has issued a warning for the trail that says the male grouse is acting aggressively because it's mating season.

Barneslikened her encounter with the angrybird to a "showdown" in a Western movie.

To keep him at a distance and prevent himfrom pecking at her legs, she grabbed a stick.

"My girlfriends, on the other hand, their instinct was to start screaming and run up slope, away from me and the bird, and left me all alone."

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Then, without making eye contact,Barnes said she started gently talking to the grouse and walking backwards "to get out of his territory."

"Then I turned, and I ran for my life."

Barnes, whoalso happens to bean education specialist with AlbertaParks,said thetown is "abuzz with bird talk" and has evenheard stories aboutthemenacing grousegoing after cyclists on the trail.

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener