The grouse began to disappear long before WNV came around. In Ct the decline of the grouse coincided with the re-introduction of the wild Turkey. The covers where I hunted are almost exactly the same now as they were 35 years ago. Wild grapes, plenty of berries and birch. The big difference is during the 80's there were no turkeys and plenty of grouse now there are no grouse and plenty of turkeys.