The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Wyoming officials have proposed updating the state’s sage grouse core area protection map as the bird’s population has steadily improved.

The protection areas were initially developed in 2008 and revised in 2015 and 2019. The updated map includes additional protection areas that cover a total of 15 million acres. 

Gov. Mark Gordon said the state’s Sage Grouse Implementation Team (SGIT) has been working with conservation groups, energy development officials, local governments, private landowners and state agencies to update the map.

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When the revisions ignited public interest, the public comment...