A CTV News reporter captured candid video of a mother ruffed grouse and her chicks nesting in a backyard in Timmins, Ontario [1].

The footage provides a rare, close-up look at the nesting habits of ruffed grouse in a residential setting. Such sightings highlight the intersection of urban development and wildlife habitats in northern Canada.

Lydia Chubak, a reporter for CTV News, filmed the birds on June 18, 2026 [1]. The encounter occurred during Chubak's lunch hour, allowing her to document the mother and her offspring in their natural environment [1].

Northern Ontario serves as a primary habitat for the ruffed grouse, a species known for its secretive nature. The birds typically rely on dense cover to protect their young from predators. In this instance, the residential backyard in Timmins provided the necessary shelter for the mother to raise her chicks [1].

The video shows the birds interacting within the yard, illustrating how wildlife can adapt to human-altered landscapes. While ruffed grouse are common in the region, the proximity of this nest to a home offered a unique opportunity for documentation [1].

Chubak's footage was shared via CTV News to showcase the local biodiversity found in northern communities. The sighting emphasizes the presence of native species even within the boundaries of city limits [1].

“A mother ruffed grouse and her chicks nesting in a backyard”

The presence of nesting ruffed grouse in a residential backyard indicates that urban green spaces in northern Ontario can provide viable surrogate habitats for native wildlife. This suggests that residential landscaping may play a role in supporting local biodiversity by offering the dense cover required for ground-nesting birds to avoid predation.