Grouse

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead tipped his cap to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Friday for its $211 million, four-year plan to help western states’ efforts to preserve greater sage grouse habitat.

A conservation group that represents several Western states and provinces said the number of greater sage grouse observed in the field has increased over the past two springs and that the total population of the birds is close to 425,000.

As a dozen western states hope to head off an endangered species listing next month for the greater sage grouse, an updated census of the ground-dwelling bird that is scheduled to be released later this month could show favorable upward trends.

As part of a governors’ consistency review by western states, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead on Thursday lobbied federal regulators to seriously consider state plans for protecting the greater sage grouse. The western states want to avoid an Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing for the bird, which could hinder energy development.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has signed an agreement to work cooperatively with federal and state officials to preserve greater sage grouse habitat on working rangelands.

Lawmakers in both chambers of Congress have decided to take aim against the greater sage grouse, introducing amendments to two appropriations bills that would prevent federal regulators from enacting conservation plans to protect the bird or list it as an endangered species.

Lawmakers in both chambers of Congress have decided to take aim against the greater sage grouse, introducing amendments to two appropriations bills that would prevent federal regulators from enacting conservation plans to protect the bird or list it as an endangered species.

Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Sally Jewell said oil and gas companies should be minimally impacted by plans to conserve the habitat of the greater sage grouse, as Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead added that the plans were essentially the last chance to avoid having the bird added to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in September.

Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Sally Jewell said oil and gas companies should be minimally impacted by plans to conserve the habitat of the greater sage grouse, as Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead added that the plans were essentially the last chance to avoid having the bird added to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in September.