December 01, 2014 09:49 AM UTC

Clock Still Ticking on the Greater Sage-Grouse

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• by: PiceanceDog

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Among the news-you-didn’t-hear leading into the holiday weekend, which got buried by other things—some worthy of attention and reflection, others the typical media noise—was a recent poll on the Greater Sage-Grouse.  It shows sportsmen in Colorado (and across the other 10 western state where the bird occurs) favor protecting its habitat. 

This is noteworthy as the federal government just announced it is listing the bird’s smaller relative the Gunnison Sage-Grouse as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  This story was posted online by the Public News Service – Colorado:

Earlier this month the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it is classifying the Gunnison sage grouse as threatened. Under a court-ordered agreement, the agency will decide by next year whether to list the greater sage grouse.

Meanwhile the online news service ‘Environmental Protection’ reports:

The National Wildlife Federation on Nov. 19 released results from a poll of sportsmen and women in 11 states in the heart of greater sage-grouse country, with a majority of the respondents supporting efforts to protect the bird and the sagebrush landscape that supports it. A majority backed restrictions in important habitat to save the bird and avoid its placement on the federal Endangered Species List. Such a listing probably would lead to more stringent, long-term constraints on activities as hunting, fishing, recreation, and grazing, said John Gale, NWF's national sportsmen's campaign manager.

"First and foremost, it's critical that we save this iconic Western wildlife species," he said. "We can do that with strong conservation plans that protect key greater sage-grouse habitat while allowing responsible energy development, grazing, and other activities on other public lands."

He pointed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announcement last week that it is classifying the Gunnison sage-grouse as threatened to keep it from going extinct. The Gunnison sage grouse is smaller than the greater sage-grouse and now is found in portions of Colorado and southeastern Utah, which represent only 7 percent of its historic range, according to NWF.

The Durango Herald reported on the Colorado angle, 

According to survey results, nine out of 10 hunters believe it is important to take action to protect sage-grouse habitat. Almost as many believe protecting the animal will benefit other game species.

Support undoubtedly comes partly from the recognition that protecting sage grouse habitat is good for wildlife more broadly. And since the habitat lies mostly on public lands, stakeholders—including the State of Colorado–need to step up and protect the bird’s habitat quickly.  The ‘Environmental Protection’ article continues:

Land Tawney, executive director of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, said because most of the greater sage-grouse's habitat is on public lands, BLM and states where the bird is found must step up now. "It's not just about the bird; it's about the herds of mule deer and pronghorns, the hunting and other recreation made possible by healthy habitat," Tawney said.

Protecting priority habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse benefits more than just that species, and if done right should not unduly impact other activities. 

NWF said the survey followed a recent report showing that almost none of the important greater sage-grouse habitat is currently home to any energy production and that 73 to 81 percent of areas with medium to high potential for energy development are outside the bird's habitat.

None of that is to say, of course, that we don’t need to act to put real, tangible and serious protections in place: we do.  The bottom line is Colorado needs to show it can adequately protect habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse. 

From the Durango Herald story:

“Coloradans really care about their wildlife and public land,” [Colorado Wildlife Federation’s Suzanne] O’Neill said. “At the same time, they care about other uses of the land, and they’d like to see a balance. In this case, it will require collaboration among the state, BLM and many other stakeholders.”

The federal government will make a decision in 2015 whether or not to list the Greater Sage-Grouse.  With strong support for protecting the bird's habitat, its Colorado's opportunity to act now to show the feds it can adequately do that and avoid the listing.