Photo by Gerrit Vyn
An iconic species of the American Prairie
Known for elaborate mating dances, the Greater Sage-grouse is an upland bird species entirely dependent on large expanses of healthy, contiguous sagebrush habitat for survival. Sagebrush ecosystems have been greatly impacted by development and habitat fragmentation, with an estimated 50 percent range reduction since 1800. Due to habitat disturbance and declining bird populations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) undertook a review to determine if grouse warranted federal protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The success of local conservation efforts is critical for both
sage-grouse and the future of state-led conservation plans
sage-grouse and the future of state-led conservation plans
In response to collaborative conservation efforts of state governments, environmental groups, and private landowners, in 2015 the USFWS declined to list the grouse as threatened. This decision marks a different approach to managing at-risk species in the U.S., namely an expansion of local efforts in lieu of federal action under the ESA.