Breaking News …

The Department of the Interior Secretary announced today that the sage-grouse needs protection as a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act. Today’s decision will place the once-abundant sage-grouse on the Endangered Species Act “Candidate” list until funding is available to provide full protections.

The Department of the Interior will expand efforts with state, local and tribal partners to map lands that are vital to the survival of the greater sage-grouse, a ground-dwelling bird that inhabits much of the West, while guiding and managing new conventional and renewable energy projects to reduce impacts on the species, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today.

“This decision provides an opportunity for landowners, sportsmen and other conservationists to collaborate on approaches that conserve and restore grouse habitat in ways that benefit all interests,” said John Smeltzer, Board President of Colorado Wildlife Federation. “mowever, it’s important to understand that the sage-grouse is just one indicator of the increasing impacts on the West’s wildlife habitat. All groups and interests need to work together if we’re to sustain our wildlife heritage.”

Said Dr. Allan Reishus, a Physician and Sportsman in Craig, “Westerners, especially sportsmen, need to appreciate how important sage-grouse lands are to our local communities.  Over three billion dollars per year comes into Colorado’s economy from hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-related recreation. The land that supports sage-grouse also is home to mule deer, elk, and antelope—conserving sage-grouse also means conserving big game.”

The full impact of this decision on future renewable energy projects and oil and gas development  in Wyoming, Colorado and other regions of The West remains to be determined, but no doubt will be a limiting factor in specific locales where the Sage Grouse resides.

News Release on Greater Sage-Grouse Finding