News

We provide scientific reports, project profiles, technical tools, videos, photos, field guides, and links that tell the story of how cooperative conservation is making a difference for working lands and wildlife across the West.

Making Home on the Range Safer for Big Game
Publication Alert

Making Home on the Range Safer for Big Game

NRCS Technical Note Leverages Lessons Learned from NRCS-Wyoming Migratory Big Game ...
WLFW Contributes to Open-Access Textbook Guiding Future of Rangeland Conservation
Publication Alert

WLFW Contributes to Open-Access Textbook Guiding Future of Rangeland Conservation

"Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation" is the new go-to resource for rangeland professionals, practitioners, and students. Three of the chapters were coauthored by WLFW ...
NRCS and Partners Work Together to Help Families Keep Their Land Green-Side Up
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NRCS and Partners Work Together to Help Families Keep Their Land Green-Side Up

Conservation easements are one of the best tools to keep working lands in working hands. Learn about how partners, like land trusts, work with the NRCS to craft successful ...
Migratory Big Game Conservation Highlights the Best of West
News

Migratory Big Game Conservation Highlights the Best of West

Learn more about the USDA's Migratory Big Game Initiative and how WLFW is helping lead this broad effort in Wyoming, Montana, and ...
Prioritizing healthy grasslands leads to more efficient conservation than focusing solely on wildlife
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Prioritizing healthy grasslands leads to more efficient conservation than focusing solely on wildlife

New research highlights how WLFW's shift from single-species conservation to conserving intact landscapes produces better conservation ...
New Science Backs WLFW’s Biome-Wide Conservation Approach
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New Science Backs WLFW’s Biome-Wide Conservation Approach

Research shows that WLFW's updated approach to conserving intact working landscapes produces better conservation results than focusing on a single ...
USDA Expands Conservation Practices Qualifying for Climate-Smart Funding
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USDA Expands Conservation Practices Qualifying for Climate-Smart Funding

Learn about the USDA-NRCS's recent expansion of the list of practices and activities eligible for Climate-Smart funding through the Inflation Reduction ...
WLFW Research Details How Wildfire Follows Cheatgrass In the Great Basin
Publication Alert

WLFW Research Details How Wildfire Follows Cheatgrass In the Great Basin

WLFW research shows that 77% of invasive annual grass transition in the Great Basin occurred without fire, suggesting proactive management of invasive grasses is ...
Visual analysis shows tree expansion across Montana rangelands since 1950s
Publication Alert

Visual analysis shows tree expansion across Montana rangelands since 1950s

New mapping application shows where tree expansion is happening in Montana through easy-to-see, interactive comparisons of historical and modern aerial ...
2023 Western Working Lands for Wildlife Workshop Recap
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2023 Western Working Lands for Wildlife Workshop Recap

Learn more about the 2023 Western Working Lands for Wildlife ...
New “Pocket Guide” Provides Unified Planning Process for Reducing Woody Encroachment in Grasslands
News

New “Pocket Guide” Provides Unified Planning Process for Reducing Woody Encroachment in Grasslands

New pocket guide details conservation planning guidelines for reducing woody encroachment in ...
Landscape Explorer map shows how much the West has changed since the 1950s 
News

Landscape Explorer map shows how much the West has changed since the 1950s 

Explore past and present landscapes from the Great Plains to the Pacific coast. New, easy-to-use map uses historic and current aerial imagery to highlight how our landscapes ...
USDA Announces Historic Investment in Wildlife Conservation, Expands Partnership to Include Additional Programs
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USDA Announces Historic Investment in Wildlife Conservation, Expands Partnership to Include Additional Programs

USDA commits $500 million from Farm Bill, expanding Working Lands conservation to benefit wildlife, support agriculture, and rural ...
To protect intact grasslands, start with the seed
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To protect intact grasslands, start with the seed

Research highlights the importance of seed sources as a driver of grassland vulnerability to encroachment and how to best prevent manage seeds and seedlings to protect core ...
Podcast: Predicting Fire in the Great Basin
Podcast

Podcast: Predicting Fire in the Great Basin

This episode of the Living with Fire podcast talks with WLFW's Joe Smith and Jeremy Maestas to discuss Smith's fire probability maps for the Great ...
How can we balance sage grouse and pinyon jay conservation in sagebrush country?
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How can we balance sage grouse and pinyon jay conservation in sagebrush country?

Two recent papers highlight that the majority of conifer removal in sagebrush country has avoided key pinyon jay habitat and further detail how we can balance managing pinyon ...
Where trees meet sage: Striking a balance between sage grouse and pinyon jay needs
Publication Alert

Where trees meet sage: Striking a balance between sage grouse and pinyon jay needs

Research from two papers helps managers balance conservation to benefit imperiled sagebrush and woodland birds ...
Podcast: How Invasive Grasses Are Harming Hunting
Podcast

Podcast: How Invasive Grasses Are Harming Hunting

Join Brian Mealor, director of the University of Wyoming's Sheridan Research and Extension Center and the Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems for ...
More woody encroachment means more wildfire risk. Prescribed fire can lower it.
Publication Alert

More woody encroachment means more wildfire risk. Prescribed fire can lower it.

WLFW-affiliated research details the risk of increasing wildfire in the Great Plains due to woody encroachment and how prescribed fires help reduce that ...
USDA-ARS Now Stewarding the Rangeland Analysis Platform
News

USDA-ARS Now Stewarding the Rangeland Analysis Platform

The USDA-Agricultural Research Service is now stewarding the powerful Rangeland Analysis ...
Podcast: Part 2 of “Defend the Core” Strategy for Invasive Plants
Podcast

Podcast: Part 2 of “Defend the Core” Strategy for Invasive Plants

WLFW's Jeremy Maestas and Dirac Twidwell join the Art of Range podcast for part two of a two-part discussion of Defend the Core, a proactive management strategy defending ...
New science incorporates genetics and connectivity into sage grouse conservation
Publication Alert

New science incorporates genetics and connectivity into sage grouse conservation

New research adds connectivity to sage grouse conservation strategies, opening new opportunities for conserving travel pathways that facilitate gene flow among sage grouse ...
Podcast: Maintaining the Grass
Podcast

Podcast: Maintaining the Grass

Join Kansas Backcountry Hunters and Anglers as they talk with Dean Krehbiel of Kansas NRCS and Cade Rensick, a Kansas-based producer and extension ...
Podcast: Part 1 of “Defend the Core” Strategy for Invasive Plants
Podcast

Podcast: Part 1 of “Defend the Core” Strategy for Invasive Plants

WLFW's Jeremy Maestas and Dirac Twidwell join the Art of Range podcast for part one of a two-part discussion of Defend the Core, a proactive management strategy defending ...
Protecting water preserves a lifescape, not just a landscape
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Protecting water preserves a lifescape, not just a landscape

Longtime practitioners, Carol Evans and Sherman Swanson, share lessons learned on how to conserve and improve essential riparian resources for ranchers and wildlife ...
New analysis highlights conservation challenges and opportunities on Western public lands
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New analysis highlights conservation challenges and opportunities on Western public lands

Recently published science applies remote-sensing tools to BLM-managed rangelands and provides an unprecedented record of how the vegetation across this enormous area has ...
Research provides first-ever analysis of vegetation trends on BLM lands across West
PUBLICATION ALERT

Research provides first-ever analysis of vegetation trends on BLM lands across West

Remote sensing technology offers a cost-efficient and spatially diverse method of analyzing vegetation trends on western rangelands, including the more than 233 million acres ...
Saving Time, Money and Wildlife through Conservation Practices
News

Saving Time, Money and Wildlife through Conservation Practices

Jeff Boardman's partnership with the USDA-NRCS is paying off for him and for the migratory big game that move through his ranch every ...
Latest Sage Grouse “Scorecard” Highlights NRCS Investments and Outcomes
News

Latest Sage Grouse “Scorecard” Highlights NRCS Investments and Outcomes

The latest Greater Sage-Grouse Scorecard details NRCS investments and conservation milestones in sagebrush country for fiscal year 2022 and cumulatively since ...
Latest LPCI “Scorecard” Highlights NRCS Investments and Outcomes
News

Latest LPCI “Scorecard” Highlights NRCS Investments and Outcomes

Check out the latest Lesser Prairie-Chicken Scorecard which details NRCS investments and conservation milestones in the southern Plains states for fiscal year 2022 and ...
Forage Production Lost to Tree Expansion
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Forage Production Lost to Tree Expansion

This WLFW-supported research quantifies the economic impacts of lost herbaceous production, one of the many negative effects of woody ...
Herbaceous production lost to tree encroachment in United States rangelands
PUBLICATION ALERT

Herbaceous production lost to tree encroachment in United States rangelands

New research from University of Montana researchers affiliated with Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) quantifies the economic impacts of lost herbaceous production throughout ...
Next-gen remote sensing tools level up rangeland conservation
Publication Alert

Next-gen remote sensing tools level up rangeland conservation

New research highlights how remote sensing tools accurately and efficiently detail conservation outcomes on ...
New tool maps the likelihood of large wildfires in the Great Basin
Publication Alert

New tool maps the likelihood of large wildfires in the Great Basin

Two new papers highlight how rangeland fires are different from forest fires and how fire-probability research can inform fuels management in ...
Getting Ahead of Large Rangeland Fires in the Great Basin
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Getting Ahead of Large Rangeland Fires in the Great Basin

Join Joe Smith and Jeremy Maestas for a discussion about new, annual fire-prediction maps for the Great Basin and what they mean for managing for wildfire in ...
Making Fences Friendlier for Ranchers and Wildlife
News

Making Fences Friendlier for Ranchers and Wildlife

The Vickrey Family hosts one of the largest mule deer migrations in the country and has worked with the NRCS to make their ranch's fences easier for the deer to ...
New Partnership in Wyoming Rewards Landowners for Stewarding Wildlife Habitat
News

New Partnership in Wyoming Rewards Landowners for Stewarding Wildlife Habitat

In 2022, the USDA-NRCS and the state of Wyoming announced a pilot program to benefit migrating big game that move across public and private ...
Dr. Dirac Twidwell: Saving the Last Grasslands
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Dr. Dirac Twidwell: Saving the Last Grasslands

WLFW science advisor Dr. Dirac Twidwell discusses how the NRCS and partners are working to save the last grasslands in the U.S. and how new science and technology is informing ...
How To Watch The Best Mating Dance In The West
News

How To Watch The Best Mating Dance In The West

Check out the 'sage grouse strut' this spring on a live-streaming Lek Cam, and read helpful tips for responsible wildlife viewing in the ...
Creating Jobs Through Conservation in Southwest Montana
News

Creating Jobs Through Conservation in Southwest Montana

In southwest Montana, a creative partnership is improving sagebrush habitat, providing jobs, and empowering youth, one project at a ...
The Last Continuous Grasslands on Earth
Publication Alert

The Last Continuous Grasslands on Earth

New research details the largest and most intact grasslands on Earth. Two of the largest are located here in the U.S. -- the Sandhills of Nebraska and the sagebrush steppe of ...
“Defend the Core” — Fighting back against woody invaders on the Great Plains
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“Defend the Core” — Fighting back against woody invaders on the Great Plains

NRCS’ Working Lands for Wildlife is investing in big-picture, proactive ways to keep from losing healthy grasslands to woody ...
“Defend the Core” — Fighting back against rangeland invaders in sagebrush country
News

“Defend the Core” — Fighting back against rangeland invaders in sagebrush country

Working Lands for Wildlife is leading a new charge to Defend the Core and fighting back against invasive annual ...
A geographic strategy for cross-jurisdictional, proactive management of invasive annual grasses in Oregon
Publication Alert

A geographic strategy for cross-jurisdictional, proactive management of invasive annual grasses in Oregon

A new "Defend the Core" strategy for addressing invasive annual grasses is emerging in Oregon and it parallels other efforts across the ...
Defend the Core: Maintaining intact rangelands by reducing vulnerability to invasive annual grasses
Publication Alert

Defend the Core: Maintaining intact rangelands by reducing vulnerability to invasive annual grasses

Defend the Core is an emerging, proactive strategy being used by a variety of efforts across the West to defend intact rangeland cores from threats like invasive annual ...
New Year, New Connections, New Opportunities
News

New Year, New Connections, New Opportunities

With two Frameworks for Conservation Action addressing the most pressing threats facing the sagebrush and Great Plains grassland biomes, 2022 promises to be a big year for ...
Publication Alert: Large-scale fire management restores grassland bird richness
News

Publication Alert: Large-scale fire management restores grassland bird richness

Research from the Loess Canyons Experimental Landscape shows that strategic use of prescribed fire boosts grassland species ...
Ask an Expert: Early Warning Signals and Grassland Bird Richness
News

Ask an Expert: Early Warning Signals and Grassland Bird Richness

Caleb Roberts discusses two recent papers that highlight how the Rangeland Analysis Platform is informing on-the-ground conservation in the Great ...
Spatial Technology Reveals Early Warning Signs of Large-Scale Woody Encroachment Threat to Greater Prairie-Chickens
Publication Alert

Spatial Technology Reveals Early Warning Signs of Large-Scale Woody Encroachment Threat to Greater Prairie-Chickens

Research provides early warning signal for landscapes transitioning from grasslands to ...
Beaver Breaks: How Beavers (and low-tech riparian restoration) Help Reduce Impacts From Fire
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Beaver Breaks: How Beavers (and low-tech riparian restoration) Help Reduce Impacts From Fire

Historically, beavers created vast wetlands that provided critically important habitat for a diverse array of wildlife and plant species. Now, conservationists are restoring ...
The Ascent and Spread of Annual Invasive Grasses in the Great Basin
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The Ascent and Spread of Annual Invasive Grasses in the Great Basin

Join Joe Smith as he discusses his new research highlighting how annual invasive grasses are spreading in the Great Basin and what this means for ...
Publication Alert: Annual Invasive Grasses Spreading Through Great Basin to Higher Elevations and Northern Aspects
Publication Alert

Publication Alert: Annual Invasive Grasses Spreading Through Great Basin to Higher Elevations and Northern Aspects

Working Lands for Wildlife research is showing that annual invasive grasses are moving up in elevation and to more northern aspects throughout the Great ...
Warners
News

Warners

For eight years, SGI and partners have conducted a long-term conifer removal project in the Warner Mountains in SE Oregon. In addition to removing encroaching trees, ...
The Story of Saving the Loess Canyons
News

The Story of Saving the Loess Canyons

A new report highlights how landowners in the Loess Canyons of Nebraska have successfully reversed tree encroachment in grasslands while also facilitating co-produced science ...
Publication: Habitat Preferred by Sage Grouse Increases Six-Fold Following Tree Removal
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Publication: Habitat Preferred by Sage Grouse Increases Six-Fold Following Tree Removal

A long-term study from Oregon shows strategic tree removal boots sage grouse use of habitat as compared to areas where no trees were ...
A Decade of Science Support in the Sagebrush Biome
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A Decade of Science Support in the Sagebrush Biome

A new report summarizes - in one place - more than a decade of WLFW science support that NRCS staff and partners can incorporate into their future ...
The Science Behind WLFW’s Riparian and Wet Meadow Restoration
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The Science Behind WLFW’s Riparian and Wet Meadow Restoration

Working Lands for Wildlife researchers and scientists have spent years researching how sage grouse use the West's mesic habitats, how best to restore those habitats, and ...
Thinking Like Water: Working Lands for Wildlife Leads Low-Tech Mesic Restoration Efforts in Sagebrush Country
News

Thinking Like Water: Working Lands for Wildlife Leads Low-Tech Mesic Restoration Efforts in Sagebrush Country

Since 2016, Working Lands for Wildlife has been trained nearly 2,000 people on low-tech mesic restoration techniques, empowering practitioners to implement riparian and wet ...
Conserving Prime Hay Ground As Well As Colorado’s Famous Elk and Deer
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Conserving Prime Hay Ground As Well As Colorado’s Famous Elk and Deer

The Etchart Family worked with the NRCS, TNC, and the CO Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust to place much of the ranch in a conservation easement protecting this prime ...
Ask an Expert | Keeping it Grass: How the NRCS Helps Landowners Maintain Grasslands When CRP Contracts Expire
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Ask an Expert | Keeping it Grass: How the NRCS Helps Landowners Maintain Grasslands When CRP Contracts Expire

Join Andy Burr, NRCS-Kansas state biologist, to learn how the NRCS can help landowners turn expired CRP lands into grazing lands that maintain wildlife habitat and provide ...
Turning former cropland into green grass — and green cash
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Turning former cropland into green grass — and green cash

Learn how one producer worked with the NRCS to turn expired CRP lands into profitable grazing lands that support wildlife while producing income for the ranch and local ...
Study Demonstrates Importance of Voluntary Conservation for Grassland Birds
News

Study Demonstrates Importance of Voluntary Conservation for Grassland Birds

Study highlights how voluntary conservation protected habitat for 4.5 million grassland songbirds, and boosted populations by 1.8 million ...
Ask an Expert | The Green Glacier: What is Conifer Encroachment and Why is it Bad?
Ask an Expert

Ask an Expert | The Green Glacier: What is Conifer Encroachment and Why is it Bad?

Learn about the "Green Glacier," the slow-moving expansion of conifer trees across western rangelands, in this Ask an Expert with NRCS's Jeremy ...
Podcast: The New Great Plains Grasslands Initiative with NRCS
Podcast

Podcast: The New Great Plains Grasslands Initiative with NRCS

Learn about the USDA-NRCS' Working Lands for Wildlife efforts and the Great Plains Grassland Initiatives in this episode of On the Wing, a podcast from Pheasants Forever and ...
Sage Grouse Populations Grow Faster After Tree Removal
News

Sage Grouse Populations Grow Faster After Tree Removal

New study shows that sage grouse population growth rates are 12% higher following long-term conifer ...
Washington Ranch Preserves Sagebrush Rangeland in Perpetuity
News

Washington Ranch Preserves Sagebrush Rangeland in Perpetuity

New conservation easement in Washington state preserves more than 2,000 acres of native sagebrush range in critical sage grouse habitat, adding to a 6,800-acre easement the ...
The Value of Keeping it in Grass
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The Value of Keeping it in Grass

The Burke Family's long partnership with NRCS has led to better forage for livestock and wildlife and, in 2017, their ranch was protected in perpetuity through a ...
Great Plains Grasslands Framework in Focus: Wildlife Conservation Through Sustainable Ranching
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Great Plains Grasslands Framework in Focus: Wildlife Conservation Through Sustainable Ranching

Dig into the Framework for Conservation Action in the Great Plains Grasslands ...
Sagebrush Framework in Focus: Wildlife Conservation Through Sustainable Ranching
News

Sagebrush Framework in Focus: Wildlife Conservation Through Sustainable Ranching

Dig into the Framework for Conservation Action in the Sagebrush ...
E&E News: USDA plans aim to bolster rangeland wildlife conservation
News

E&E News: USDA plans aim to bolster rangeland wildlife conservation

E&E News reports on the Framework for Conservation Action in the Sagebrush Biome. Reprinted with ...
USDA-NRCS Press Release: New Frameworks Guide Conservation Action on America’s Working Rangelands
News

USDA-NRCS Press Release: New Frameworks Guide Conservation Action on America’s Working Rangelands

Learn about the new Framework for Conservation Action in the Sagebrush Biome through this post and a webinar on April 8th, ...
Healthy Rangelands Store Critical Carbon Above and Below the Surface
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Healthy Rangelands Store Critical Carbon Above and Below the Surface

Learn how healthy rangelands store carbon and what WLFW is doing to ensure these rangelands remain resilient and healthy into the ...
Working Lands Snapshot | WILDFLOWERS
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Working Lands Snapshot | WILDFLOWERS

Learn all about wildflowers, also called forbs, in this Western Working Lands ...
Healthy Grass Equals Profitable Ranches
News

Healthy Grass Equals Profitable Ranches

The Blair family has worked hard to make their ranch profitable and resilient which benefits wildlife and the next generation. Read all about their work with SGI and other ...
Press Release: USDA-NRCS Announces Funding of the KS Great Plains Grasslands Initiative
News

Press Release: USDA-NRCS Announces Funding of the KS Great Plains Grasslands Initiative

Kansas producers have new funding opportunities to help address woody plant encroachment on targeted rangelands through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural ...
A Conservation Dream Come True
News

A Conservation Dream Come True

This story originally appeared in Nebraskaland Magazine, the magazine of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Reposted here with permission.
Shared Capacity, Shared Success
News

Shared Capacity, Shared Success

Learn about the Strategic Action Watershed Team and how these partner-positions are adding significant capacity to NRCS offices across the ...
New technology helps ranchers maximize grass production
News

New technology helps ranchers maximize grass production

How much forage have you lost to woody species? The Rangeland Analysis Platform can help quantify forage loss and pinpoint where to invest conservation funding. Join the NRCS ...
A Landowner’s Journey to Using Prescribed Fire – Repost – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
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A Landowner’s Journey to Using Prescribed Fire – Repost – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Jim Jenkins worked to remove eastern redcedar trees from his Nebraska ranch for years, with limited success. Then he learned about how prescribed fire could do the work for ...
Conservation Reserve Program Benefits Lesser Prairie-Chickens
News

Conservation Reserve Program Benefits Lesser Prairie-Chickens

New report highlights importance of Conservation Reserve Program grasslands for Lesser ...
Western Working Lands Snapshot | Wet Habitat in the West
News

Western Working Lands Snapshot | Wet Habitat in the West

Learn about the wet, or mesic, habitats that cover 2% of the arid West but are critical to wildlife and ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | Life Cycle of Sage Grouse
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | Life Cycle of Sage Grouse

Test your knowledge of the life cycle of sage grouse in this Sage Whiz ...
Take the Chicken Challenge | Prairie Habitat
Chicken Challenge

Take the Chicken Challenge | Prairie Habitat

Test your knowledge of lesser prairie-chicken habitat with this Chicken ...
Ask an Expert | Curtis Elke, Idaho-NRCS State Conservationist, Talks Cheatgrass and More
News

Ask an Expert | Curtis Elke, Idaho-NRCS State Conservationist, Talks Cheatgrass and More

The Cheatgrass Challenge is a new, proactive strategy outlining Idaho NRCS’s plans to tackle invasive annual grasses. Read on for ...
Don’t Get Cheated By Invasive Grasses
News

Don’t Get Cheated By Invasive Grasses

Farmers and ranchers can't afford to ignore the economic challenges posed by ...
Ask an Expert | Fire and the Great Plains
Ask an Expert

Ask an Expert | Fire and the Great Plains

Fire used to play a big role in shaping the Great Plains. Does it today and how do the Plains recover from fire? Dr. Victoria Donovan answers these and other questions in this ...
Virtual Workshop | Low-Tech Riverscape Restoration – Aug. 11-14, 2020
News

Virtual Workshop | Low-Tech Riverscape Restoration – Aug. 11-14, 2020

Join WLFW and Utah State University for a free, four-day, virtual workshop focused on low-tech, process-based riverscape ...
New Report Highlights Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative Outcomes Since 2010
News

New Report Highlights Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative Outcomes Since 2010

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative is a Working Lands for Wildlife effort that is focused on rangeland resiliency in the southern Great Plains. Check out this new report to ...
New Report Highlights LPCI’s Outcomes Since 2010
News

New Report Highlights LPCI’s Outcomes Since 2010

New report details conservation outcomes from LPCI since ...
Idaho Launches the Cheatgrass Challenge
News

Idaho Launches the Cheatgrass Challenge

Read all about Idaho's new effort to tackle cheatgrass, an invasive annual grass that is causing serious issues across western ...
Webinar Replay | Restoration of Annual Grass Invaded Landscapes
News

Webinar Replay | Restoration of Annual Grass Invaded Landscapes

Overview of the devastating impacts of annual invasive grasses, regional scale strategies to tackle the problem, on-the-ground examples of restoration, and introduction to a ...
Bugle Magazine | Thinking Like a Beaver
News

Bugle Magazine | Thinking Like a Beaver

Read about how volunteer-led, low-tech, process-based restoration of streams and meadows in the west is helping restore critical habitat for elk and other wildlife in this ...
Western Working Lands Snapshot | Pollinators
News

Western Working Lands Snapshot | Pollinators

Learn all about pollination and pollinators in this Western Working Lands ...
Webinar | Low-Tech Wet Meadow Restoration: Reading the Landscape to Recognize Opportunities
News

Webinar | Low-Tech Wet Meadow Restoration: Reading the Landscape to Recognize Opportunities

Wet or mesic habitats are rare but disproportionately important habitats within western rangelands. Gully erosion and channel incision are widespread problems reducing nature ...
Early 2020 Webinar Replay Roundup
News

Early 2020 Webinar Replay Roundup

Webinar Roundup | Watch on-demand replays of recent sagebrush and sage grouse-focused webinars all first presented in early ...
Ask an Expert | Mitch Faulkner, 2020 Rangeland Management Specialist of the Year, Talks Partnerships and More
News

Ask an Expert | Mitch Faulkner, 2020 Rangeland Management Specialist of the Year, Talks Partnerships and More

Mitch Faulkner, 2020 NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist of the Year, talks about the partnerships that have advanced rangeland conservation across boundaries in South ...
Western Working Lands Snapshot | The Great Basin
News

Western Working Lands Snapshot | The Great Basin

Learn about the fascinating topography, natural history, and conservation challenges within the Great Basin, a huge swath of western rangeland in Nevada, Idaho, California, ...
Success Story | Innovative Small Business Owner Integral to Restoring Grazing Lands
News

Success Story | Innovative Small Business Owner Integral to Restoring Grazing Lands

Meet Cecil Swaggart, an innovative small business owner whose expertise is advancing sagebrush restoration in the ...
Take the Chicken Challenge | Conifers
Chicken Challenge

Take the Chicken Challenge | Conifers

Test your knowledge of conifers and their impacts to grasslands in our latest Chicken ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | Conifers
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | Conifers

Test your knowledge of conifer trees and how they impact sagebrush and grassland ...
Montana Outdoors Magazine Article | The Herd and the Bird
News

Montana Outdoors Magazine Article | The Herd and the Bird

Magazine Article | This article originally appeared in the March-April 2020 issue of Montana Outdoors, the magazine of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. It is reposted here with ...
SGI’s “Ranching First” Approach Proves Key to Protecting Ranch in Washington
News

SGI’s “Ranching First” Approach Proves Key to Protecting Ranch in Washington

The Keane Ranch is now protected from development in perpetuity thanks to a conservation easement supported, in part, by the ...
Ask an Expert | When it comes to sage grouse habitat: Don’t sweat the small stuff
News

Ask an Expert | When it comes to sage grouse habitat: Don’t sweat the small stuff

Ask a Expert | When it Comes to Sage Grouse Habitat, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: A Conversation with Joe Smith, Working Lands for Wildlife ...
Ask an Expert | How Does Grazing Affect Native Pollinators
News

Ask an Expert | How Does Grazing Affect Native Pollinators

Join Gabrielle Blanchette for a deep dive into the role native pollinators play in rangelands and how grazing can impact these critical components of a healthy ...
PHEASANTS FOREVER Magazine | Of Partners, Promises and Prairie Treasures
News

PHEASANTS FOREVER Magazine | Of Partners, Promises and Prairie Treasures

Magazine Story | Pheasants Forever's Spring 2020 Journal of Upland Conservation features how the nonprofit works with SGI and other partners to benefit a variety of grouse ...
PHEASANTS FOREVER Magazine | Of Partners, Promises and Prairie Treasures – LPCI
News

PHEASANTS FOREVER Magazine | Of Partners, Promises and Prairie Treasures – LPCI

Magazine Story | Pheasants Forever's Spring 2020 Journal of Upland Conservation features how the nonprofit works with LPCI and other partners to benefit a variety of grouse ...
Ask an Expert | The Science Behind Private Lands Conservation: A Conversation with Dr. David Naugle, Working Lands for Wildlife Science Advisor
News

Ask an Expert | The Science Behind Private Lands Conservation: A Conversation with Dr. David Naugle, Working Lands for Wildlife Science Advisor

Learn more about WLFW's approach to science, how the coproduction of science benefits private-lands conservation and what's next for the Western WLFW science ...
Nature’s Engineers: How Beavers Boost Streamflows and Restore Habitat
News

Nature’s Engineers: How Beavers Boost Streamflows and Restore Habitat

Almost like magic...How beavers boost streamflows and restore habitat with a little help from ...
Transforming Rangeland In Kansas’ Gyp Hills
News

Transforming Rangeland In Kansas’ Gyp Hills

Working together with conservation partners, a landowner and livestock producer restore prairie grazing lands in the southern Great ...
Western Working Lands Snapshot | Western Meadowlarks
News

Western Working Lands Snapshot | Western Meadowlarks

Our second Western Working Lands Snapshot post features the western meadowlark. This pretty bird has one of the sweetest calls in the ...
Low tech riparian restoration hits the ground in Idaho
News

Low tech riparian restoration hits the ground in Idaho

In Idaho, low-tech stream restoration is taking off, thanks in part, to SGI's workshops and education ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | Pronghorn
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | Pronghorn

Test your knowledge of pronghorn, one of the most iconic residents of the sagebrush ...
Quantifying Outcomes Improves Conservation Effectiveness
News

Quantifying Outcomes Improves Conservation Effectiveness

Since 2012, Working Lands for Wildlife has partnered with the Conservation Effects Assessment Project to co-produce 37 peer-reviewed studies that measure conservation ...
Western Working Lands Snapshot | Grasslands
News

Western Working Lands Snapshot | Grasslands

Join us for a new series focused on the natural history, wildlife, and people on the West's working lands. This innagural post focuses on ...
Why You Should Know About the Eastern Redcedar Science Literacy Project
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Why You Should Know About the Eastern Redcedar Science Literacy Project

Ask an Expert | What is the Eastern Redcedar Science Literacy Project and Why You Should Know About It - An interview with Dr. Dirac Twidwell of University of the ...
Cutting to the Chase: Long-Term Success of Conifer Removal Depends on Both Cutting and Burning
News

Cutting to the Chase: Long-Term Success of Conifer Removal Depends on Both Cutting and Burning

Ask an Expert | How to use cutting and burning to most effectively restore sagebrush ecosystems experiencing conifer ...
Birds of a Feather on Working Lands
News

Birds of a Feather on Working Lands

Read about how Working Lands for Wildlife is benefiting the golden-winged warbler and the greater sage grouse, two bird species that have more in common than ...
Working Lands for Wildlife Initiatives Benefit Songbirds Too!
News

Working Lands for Wildlife Initiatives Benefit Songbirds Too!

Science to Solutions | New research shows that prairie songbirds benefit from lesser prairie-chicken-focused conservation ...
Conserving prairies for chickens helps millions of songbirds too
News

Conserving prairies for chickens helps millions of songbirds too

Science to Solutions | New research shows that implementing conservation practices like prescribed grazing increases songbird populations in the southern Great Plains, while ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | Ranching
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | Ranching

How much do you know about ranching in the West? Take this Sage Whiz Quiz and test your ranching ...
How do lesser prairie-chickens like mesquite removal? Ask an Expert with Dr. Christian Hagen
News

How do lesser prairie-chickens like mesquite removal? Ask an Expert with Dr. Christian Hagen

Dr. Christian Hagen discusses his new research on mesquite trees, lesser prairie-chickens and how science can help inform the most effective places to invest restoration ...
Western Working Lands for Wildlife 2019 Workshop – Rangeland Resiliency
News

Western Working Lands for Wildlife 2019 Workshop – Rangeland Resiliency

Read about the workshop and conference in Twin Falls, Idaho and follow along with the second-day field tour across Idaho and ...
Podcast: Sage Grouse Biology, Habitat, and How to Hunt Them
Podcast

Podcast: Sage Grouse Biology, Habitat, and How to Hunt Them

The On the Wing podcast talks with WLFW's Tim Griffiths and Pheasant Forever's Ron Leathers and Michael Brown about Working Lands for Wildlife's conservation efforts that ...
Sustainable Ranching in Utah: A Boon For Wildlife And Livestock
News

Sustainable Ranching in Utah: A Boon For Wildlife And Livestock

Sustainable Ranching in Utah: A Boon for Wildlife and Livestock | Read how Stephen and Kris Ellis keep their family tradition alive and strong on the Circle Bar ...
Conservation Easements Continue to Protect Idaho’s Pioneers-To-Craters Landscape
News

Conservation Easements Continue to Protect Idaho’s Pioneers-To-Craters Landscape

Two new easements protect an additional 2,500 acres of prime sagebrush habitat, adding to area's conservation ...
Sage Grouse Populations Grow When Conifers are Removed
News

Sage Grouse Populations Grow When Conifers are Removed

Ask an Expert - Andrew Olsen explains his research that shows sage grouse populations rise 12% following sustained and targeted conifer ...
Big Picture of Woodland Management in Sagebrush Country
News

Big Picture of Woodland Management in Sagebrush Country

Science to Solutions - New research highlights reduction and expansion of conifer encroachment in sagebrush ...
Conversation with Rangeland Management Specialist of the Year, Rebecca Knapp
News

Conversation with Rangeland Management Specialist of the Year, Rebecca Knapp

In February, the Society for Rangeland Management awarded Rebecca Knapp its highest honor, Rangeland Management Specialist of the Year. We sat down with Knapp to discuss her ...
Take the Chicken Challenge |  Lesser Prairie-Chickens
Chicken Challenge

Take the Chicken Challenge | Lesser Prairie-Chickens

Learn fun facts and test your lesser prairie-chicken knowledge with our Chicken Challenge ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | Elk
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | Elk

Take this Sage Whiz Quiz to test your knowledge of ...
New Manual for Low-Tech Riparian Restoration
News

New Manual for Low-Tech Riparian Restoration

Low-tech riverscape restoration manual available for FREE. Download now and implement these low-tech, low-cost stream restoration ...
Conservation Successes – 2018 LPCI Scorecard
News

Conservation Successes – 2018 LPCI Scorecard

The new 2018 LPCI Scorecard highlights our conservation achievements since ...
Conservation Success – 2018 SGI Scorecard
News

Conservation Success – 2018 SGI Scorecard

Check out SGI's 2018 Scorecard to see how we've done against the milestones we set in ...
Woody Invasion in the Great Plains Diminishes Water Resources
Science to Solutions

Woody Invasion in the Great Plains Diminishes Water Resources

Research details impacts to water from encroaching eastern redcedar and other conifers on landscapes in the Great ...
Woody Invasion Impacts Water on Great Plains
News

Woody Invasion Impacts Water on Great Plains

Science to Solutions - New research details impacts to water from encroaching eastern redcedar and other conifers on landscapes in the Great Plains. Similar impacts occur on ...
Conservation Insight Report Confirms LPCI Projects Benefit Birds and Ranchers
News

Conservation Insight Report Confirms LPCI Projects Benefit Birds and Ranchers

New Conservation Insight Report Confirms LPCI Projects Benefit Chickens and ...
Conservation Insight Report Confirms Benefits of Conifer Removal
News

Conservation Insight Report Confirms Benefits of Conifer Removal

New report from the Conservation Effects Assessment Project confirms multiple benefits of removing encroaching ...
Watch Working Lands For Wildlife Presentations from 2019 Society for Range Management Conference
News

Watch Working Lands For Wildlife Presentations from 2019 Society for Range Management Conference

Working Lands for Wildlife video presentations from the 2019 Society for Range Management Conference featuring new technologies that can help improve rangeland management in ...
Our Amazing Grasslands Video – The Conner Ranch
News

Our Amazing Grasslands Video – The Conner Ranch

New video highlights the Conner Ranch in Belle Fourche, South Dakota where Dan and Cindi Conner have worked with SGI and other partners to improve their ranch for sage grouse ...
Patterns in Rangeland Productivity and Land Ownership and What They Mean for Conservation
News

Patterns in Rangeland Productivity and Land Ownership and What They Mean for Conservation

Ask an Expert: Dr. Brady Allred, Associate Professor of Rangeland Ecology, University of Montana | Patterns in Rangeland Productivity and Land Ownership and What They Mean for ...
WEBINAR: Mapping Cross-Scale Transitions in Rangelands
News

WEBINAR: Mapping Cross-Scale Transitions in Rangelands

WEBINAR | February 26, 2019 | 2 PM ET - Mapping Cross-Scale Transitions in Rangelands - Learn how the powerful Rangelands Analysis Platform can help improve rangeland ...
Conserving Diverse Wet Habitats Keeps Western Rangelands Resilient
News

Conserving Diverse Wet Habitats Keeps Western Rangelands Resilient

New research highlights the importance of mesic resources for sage grouse and other wildlife ...
How Do Mule Deer Use Sagebrush?
News

How Do Mule Deer Use Sagebrush?

Miles Moretti of the Mule Deer Foundation tells us how mule deer use sagebrush country and why MDF is partnering to conserve western ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | Sagebrush
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | Sagebrush

Take this quiz to test your knowledge of ...
1,800 Ranchers and Counting!
News

1,800 Ranchers and Counting!

As 2018 comes to a close, the Sage Grouse Initiative caught up with Tim Griffiths, NRCS’s Western Working Lands for Wildlife Coordinator, for a glance back and a peek ...
How Can Emerging Technology Help Conserve Rangeland?
News

How Can Emerging Technology Help Conserve Rangeland?

Research scientist Dr. Matthew Jones explains how cloud computing and machine learning are changing the way we visualize and manage ...
Grazed Rangelands Produce Sage Grouse Chicks’ Preferred Food
News

Grazed Rangelands Produce Sage Grouse Chicks’ Preferred Food

New research shows that grazing lands grow more bugs for birds to ...
Oregon Ranchers Sustain “Heart Of The Desert”
News

Oregon Ranchers Sustain “Heart Of The Desert”

Maintaining an “emerald island” in the middle of the desert is no small task. Here’s how the Fitzgeralds do it on their Oregon ...
Beavers, Water, and Fire—A New Formula for Success
News

Beavers, Water, and Fire—A New Formula for Success

National Wildlife Federation Blog | Low-tech stream restoration works wonders for people and ...
#FridaysOnTheFarm | For Future Generations of Ranchers and Sage Grouse
News

#FridaysOnTheFarm | For Future Generations of Ranchers and Sage Grouse

Meet David Sceirine, a rancher protecting key wildlife habitat on his family’s ranch near Bridgeport Valley, ...
Partnering To Conserve A Sagebrush Landscape
News

Partnering To Conserve A Sagebrush Landscape

Innovative partnerships with private landowners and public land managers on working rangelands in Southwest Montana are conserving sagebrush ...
New Nevada Agreement Paves The Way For Landscape-Scale Conservation
News

New Nevada Agreement Paves The Way For Landscape-Scale Conservation

Public and private partners in Nevada sign a landmark agreement that leverages funding across state, federal, and private property to accelerate sagebrush ...
Low-Tech Riparian And Meadow Restoration Keeps Rangelands Greener Longer
News

Low-Tech Riparian And Meadow Restoration Keeps Rangelands Greener Longer

New research shows low-tech restoration methods increased vegetation productivity by 25% and kept plants greener longer, resulting in greater ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | Water In The West
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | Water In The West

Test your knowledge about precious wet habitat on America's arid western ...
NEW SCIENCE | Middle Ground Found On The Range
News

NEW SCIENCE | Middle Ground Found On The Range

New research shows grazing access to public lands in the western U.S. can be good for ranching and ...
New Technology For Landowners And Resource Managers Revolutionizes Rangeland Monitoring
News

New Technology For Landowners And Resource Managers Revolutionizes Rangeland Monitoring

by Justin Fritscher, NRCS | New free app provides the first-ever vegetation cover maps for rangelands from the Great Plains to the Pacific ...
WEBINAR | Rangeland Analysis Platform: Introducing a free, online tool to help manage and monitor western rangelands
News

WEBINAR | Rangeland Analysis Platform: Introducing a free, online tool to help manage and monitor western rangelands

RAP is a free, online tool that helps landowners and natural resource managers track vegetation through time and plan actions to improve America's grazing ...
Running The Ranch
News

Running The Ranch

By Tim Griffiths | Pickup trucks, working dogs, cowboy hats, and running shoes. These were the diverse sights this past Saturday at the Montana Ranch ...
What Is Low-Tech Stream Restoration?
News

What Is Low-Tech Stream Restoration?

River expert Joe Wheaton explains how simple, cost-effective, hand-built structures are helping repair streams across the ...
Meet Leah Mori: Helping Ranchers Weather Wildfire Storms in Nevada’s Sagebrush Sea
News

Meet Leah Mori: Helping Ranchers Weather Wildfire Storms in Nevada’s Sagebrush Sea

This story features Leah Mori, a soil conservation technician in Winnemucca, Nevada, who is combating the twin threats of wildfire and ...
Range Conservation Across Continents: What Australia and America Have In Common
News

Range Conservation Across Continents: What Australia and America Have In Common

Field tour in Wyoming illustrates how voluntary conservation strategies working on behalf of America's sage grouse can also help Australia's ...
#ConservationRoadtrip | Taking No-Till To The Next Level
News

#ConservationRoadtrip | Taking No-Till To The Next Level

With help from NRCS, Montana rancher returns cropland to permanent grasses and forbs to provide forage for livestock and sage ...
High School Students Help Restore Montana Sagebrush
News

High School Students Help Restore Montana Sagebrush

Partners come together -- including youth field crews -- to improve working lands for wildlife in southwest ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | How Are Weeds Linked To Wildfire?
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | How Are Weeds Linked To Wildfire?

Take this quiz to test your knowledge of how invasive annual grasses are linked to wildfires in the ...
Combatting Cheatgrass On Private Ranch Lands In Wyoming Benefits Sage Grouse
News

Combatting Cheatgrass On Private Ranch Lands In Wyoming Benefits Sage Grouse

Learn how Wyoming landowner DeWitt Morris is working with the NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative to create a model for other ranchers on how to thwart invasive cheatgrass on ...
NEW Story Map Highlights Rural Communities & Positive Partnerships
News

NEW Story Map Highlights Rural Communities & Positive Partnerships

Check out this new story map that highlights the people working together across sagebrush rangeland to protect the places that matter to ...
Lessons & Photos from SGI’s 8th Annual Workshop: Combating Wildfire & Weeds
News

Lessons & Photos from SGI’s 8th Annual Workshop: Combating Wildfire & Weeds

The 2018 SGI field tour and presentations focused on cooperative, science-based conservation that's working to thwart fire and invasives in sagebrush ...
NEW REPORT: Recommendations For Reducing The Spread Of Weeds & Wildfire
News

NEW REPORT: Recommendations For Reducing The Spread Of Weeds & Wildfire

New report pinpoints gaps in combatting invasive grasses and wildfires across vast sagebrush rangelands in the western ...
#FridaysOnTheFarm: Restoring Sagebrush Country With ‘Modern Wildfire’
News

#FridaysOnTheFarm: Restoring Sagebrush Country With ‘Modern Wildfire’

Through the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI), private landowners across Eastern Oregon are volunteering to perform proactive conservation treatments on their rangeland to promote ...
Starter Guide For Healing Degraded Meadows With Hand-Built Structures In Sagebrush Country
News

Starter Guide For Healing Degraded Meadows With Hand-Built Structures In Sagebrush Country

New NRCS Technical Note provides a case study from Colorado’s Gunnison Basin to help partners replicate cost-effective watershed restoration ...
Wildfire and Weeds: 5 Things Ranchers Should Know
News

Wildfire and Weeds: 5 Things Ranchers Should Know

Here is what you should know about invasive weeds--which lead to wildfires out West--and how to combat ...
NEW SCIENCE: Visualizing Sage Grouse Habitat As “Hubs & Spokes”
News

NEW SCIENCE: Visualizing Sage Grouse Habitat As “Hubs & Spokes”

New research helps prioritize sage grouse conservation by ranking the importance of leks to the species' overall genetic connectivity across the range, likening certain areas ...
Idaho Models “3 C’s”: Collaboration, Cooperation, Conservation
News

Idaho Models “3 C’s”: Collaboration, Cooperation, Conservation

In Idaho, agencies and landowners are working together across boundaries to restore sagebrush ...
What Causes Wildfires In The West?
News

What Causes Wildfires In The West?

Wildfires are now more frequent and more intense in sagebrush country. Learn why (and how to reduce fire risk) from BLM fire planner Darcy ...
WEBINAR – Grazing To Maintain Perennial Bunchgrasses And Reduce Exotic Annuals
News

WEBINAR – Grazing To Maintain Perennial Bunchgrasses And Reduce Exotic Annuals

This webinar will discuss the benefits of altering timing of grazing to reduce annuals and maintain perennial bunchgrasses. It will also discuss the detrimental impacts of ...
WEBINAR – Herbicides Cheatgrass Control: What Works?
News

WEBINAR – Herbicides Cheatgrass Control: What Works?

This webinar will cover existing products that are effective and how they are applied in different situations. It will also introduce new emerging ...
Harnessing Technology Improves Conservation Effectiveness
News

Harnessing Technology Improves Conservation Effectiveness

Innovative Web App increases conservation effectiveness on working lands in the American West by matching the right practices to the right places using emerging science and ...
California Ranchers Safeguard Agriculture and Sage Grouse Habitat
News

California Ranchers Safeguard Agriculture and Sage Grouse Habitat

A conservation easement funded in part by the NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative will protect some of the best habitat in California for mule deer, waterfowl, migratory ...
Study Shows It Pays To Treat Invasive Grass On Your Ranch
News

Study Shows It Pays To Treat Invasive Grass On Your Ranch

An economics study from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Oregon shows that the earlier ranchers treat cheatgrass, the greater their financial ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | What The Heck Is A Lek?
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | What The Heck Is A Lek?

How much do you know about the best mating dance in the West? Test your knowledge about sage grouse lekking season ...
Research Says, Adjusting Grazing Practices Can Improve Prairie-Chicken Habitat
News

Research Says, Adjusting Grazing Practices Can Improve Prairie-Chicken Habitat

SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: A new study by researchers at Kansas State University identifies specific grazing practices that create the varied grassland habitat structure that ...
WEBINAR – Cheatgrass control methods and impacts on perennial grass abundance: A systematic review spanning 64 years
News

WEBINAR – Cheatgrass control methods and impacts on perennial grass abundance: A systematic review spanning 64 years

Reducing cheatgrass has been a primary research topic and goal of ecological restoration for over 50 years. Our work examined published studies between 1946 and 2012 to ...
30 Videos Now Available on Science & Management in Sagebrush Country
News

30 Videos Now Available on Science & Management in Sagebrush Country

View free, on-demand replays on YouTube of educational presentations about the science and management of sagebrush ...
BEEF Magazine | Thomas Brothers Make The Ground Better In Idaho
News

BEEF Magazine | Thomas Brothers Make The Ground Better In Idaho

By Brianna Randall | Partnering with the USDA-led Sage Grouse Initiative helps young ranchers improve the land for both sage grouse and ...
Montana Ranchers Improve Sage Grouse Habitat And Reduce Fire Risk
News

Montana Ranchers Improve Sage Grouse Habitat And Reduce Fire Risk

By Hayden Nelson, SGI Range Conservationist, Roundup, Montana NRCS Field Office | Landowners are partnering with the Sage Grouse Initiative to restore sagebrush habitat and ...
PHEASANTS FOREVER Magazine | Making Room Out West
News

PHEASANTS FOREVER Magazine | Making Room Out West

by Hannah Nikonow, Intermountain West Joint Venture | Removal of encroaching trees benefits upland gamebirds, ranching and other ...
Why Is Cheatgrass Bad?
News

Why Is Cheatgrass Bad?

Mike Pellant with the Bureau of Land Management explains how cheatgrass and wildfire create a vicious cycle that harms wildlife and our way of life in the West ... and gives ...
New Online Tool Shows Songbird Abundance Across Sagebrush Country
News

New Online Tool Shows Songbird Abundance Across Sagebrush Country

Check out the latest map additions to the SGI Web App, which allow users to easily visualize songbird distribution, bolstering multi-species conservation across the American ...
Free Live-Broadcast of Special Symposia from Society for Range Management Conference
News

Free Live-Broadcast of Special Symposia from Society for Range Management Conference

When: Jan 30 & Feb 1, 2018 Hosts: NRCS-SGI, IWJV, BLM, SRM, USU Watch free on-demand replays of the presentations ...
The Conservation Gift That Benefits Us For Countless Years to Come
News

The Conservation Gift That Benefits Us For Countless Years to Come

by Brianna Randall | Conserving our natural resources is one of the ways we can give back to our children, communities, and economy for years to come. And the gift that keeps ...
Patch-Burn Grazing Fires Up Prairie-Chicken Habitat
News

Patch-Burn Grazing Fires Up Prairie-Chicken Habitat

SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: Hot off the press! New research shows that patch-burn grazing creates the mosaic of grassland habitat structure that prairie-chickens depend on. LPCI's ...
Webinar: Effects Of Livestock Grazing On Sage Grouse Nesting Ecology
News

Webinar: Effects Of Livestock Grazing On Sage Grouse Nesting Ecology

When: Wednesday, February 7, 2018  |  10:00 – 11:00 am PST Host: NRCS West National Technology Support Center Click here to view the On-Demand ...
Seeing the Prairie From a Coyote’s Eye View
News

Seeing the Prairie From a Coyote’s Eye View

FIELD REPORT; What does the prairie look like from a coyote's eye view, and why does that matter to lesser prairie-chickens? LPCI range conservationist Marina Osier, based in ...
Bats, Butterflies, Bobwhites and More! New Videos About Working Lands For Wildlife
News

Bats, Butterflies, Bobwhites and More! New Videos About Working Lands For Wildlife

Learn how NRCS has been scaling up the cooperative, science-based conservation model that's working for sagebrush wildlife to focal landscapes across ...
FAIR CHASE Magazine | The Value of Sagebrush Country
News

FAIR CHASE Magazine | The Value of Sagebrush Country

by Josh Millspaugh | This feature in the December 2017 issue of Fair Chase Magazine highlights how sage grouse conservation benefits hunters and a host of wildlife ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | How Do Sagebrush Animals Survive Winter?
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | How Do Sagebrush Animals Survive Winter?

Are you a sage whiz? Test your knowledge on how animals use sagebrush range during the cold, harsh winter ...
A Tale of Two Fires: Prescribed Fire Thwarts Wildfire on the New Mexico Prairie
News

A Tale of Two Fires: Prescribed Fire Thwarts Wildfire on the New Mexico Prairie

NEWS: Two lightning-caused wildfires on the same site in eastern New Mexico yielded profoundly different results. Why? Prescribed fire played a key ...
Taking the Bias Out of Sage Grouse Nesting Studies
News

Taking the Bias Out of Sage Grouse Nesting Studies

This new Science to Solutions shows that grass height may not be as crucial to nesting success as previously thought, since hatched nests are measured later than failed ...
VIDEOS | Meet The Thomas Family, Sustainable Ranchers in Idaho
News

VIDEOS | Meet The Thomas Family, Sustainable Ranchers in Idaho

Watch short videos to hear how and why two young ranchers have put in place conservation practices that benefit the bird and their ...
New Science: When Trees Are Cut, Grasses & Shrubs Return
News

New Science: When Trees Are Cut, Grasses & Shrubs Return

Research shows that conifers decrease the native sagebrush grasses and shrubs that wildlife and livestock rely on, and confirms that forage comes back when trees are ...
Working With Water: Restoring Wet Meadows in the Sage
News

Working With Water: Restoring Wet Meadows in the Sage

By Sarah Keller for IWJV | In Montana, land managers and conservationists learned how to restore wet meadows for people and ...
Journal Of Wildlife Management Study: Grazing Shows Little Effect On Grouse Nesting
News

Journal Of Wildlife Management Study: Grazing Shows Little Effect On Grouse Nesting

by David Frey, for The Wildlife Society | A study in Montana found livestock grazing management doesn’t have as strong a link with sage grouse nest success as previously ...
Prairie Grouse Meeting Showcases Latest Prairie-Chicken Research
News

Prairie Grouse Meeting Showcases Latest Prairie-Chicken Research

LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Emerging research on lesser prairie-chickens took center stage last week at the 32nd annual Prairie Grouse Technical Council meeting in Dickinson, North ...
What’s It Like To Photograph Sage Grouse?
News

What’s It Like To Photograph Sage Grouse?

Wildlife photographer, Noppadol Paothong, spent 5 years on his newly released book, Sage Grouse: Icon of the West. Learn how and why he created this beautiful book featuring ...
BUGLE Magazine | Sage Grouse + Elk = Peanut Butter & Jelly
News

BUGLE Magazine | Sage Grouse + Elk = Peanut Butter & Jelly

Bugle Magazine, a publication of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, published this feature story on the value of conserving sagebrush country in its Nov/Dec 2017 ...
BEEF Magazine | Rest-Rotation Grazing Helps Sage Grouse Survival
News

BEEF Magazine | Rest-Rotation Grazing Helps Sage Grouse Survival

Pastures that use Sage Grouse Initiative rest-rotation grazing programs produce plentiful bugs, which is a good deal for cattle and sage grouse ...
Keeping the Grass in CRP Grasslands—LPCI and the Dust Bowl legacy
News

Keeping the Grass in CRP Grasslands—LPCI and the Dust Bowl legacy

LPCI NEWS: The Dust Bowl's legacy has profoundly shaped ranching and wildlife conservation in the southern Great Plains. LPCI helps ranchers like Abell keep grasslands in ...
Sage Whiz Quiz  |  What Do You Know About Sage Grouse Chicks?
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | What Do You Know About Sage Grouse Chicks?

Find out fun facts about our favorite baby birds, and test your natural history ...
Texas Ranchers Gather for How-to on Wildlife-Friendly Grasslands
News

Texas Ranchers Gather for How-to on Wildlife-Friendly Grasslands

NEWS: More than 40 agricultural producers gathered recently at Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in Texas for an LPCI workshop on managing rangelands to improve wildlife ...
Introducing ‘Sagebrush Connections’, A Magazine About Proactive Conservation Partnerships
News

Introducing ‘Sagebrush Connections’, A Magazine About Proactive Conservation Partnerships

by Thad Heater | The inaugural issue of our new partnership magazine focuses on conserving water resources in sagebrush ...
New Kansas Conservation Easement Protects Lesser Prairie-chickens
News

New Kansas Conservation Easement Protects Lesser Prairie-chickens

NEWS:  The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has finalized permanent conservation agreements with three private landowners to conserve 3,682 acres of ...
#HabitatHero Mike Fenn: Leaving A Legacy For Wildlife In Wyoming
News

#HabitatHero Mike Fenn: Leaving A Legacy For Wildlife In Wyoming

by Brianna Randall | Landowners like Mike Fenn in western Wyoming are voluntarily stepping up to protect and restore the sagebrush country that supports their way of ...
Fire + Grazing Reduces Wildfire Fuels, Helps Prairie-Chickens, New Research Shows
News

Fire + Grazing Reduces Wildfire Fuels, Helps Prairie-Chickens, New Research Shows

NEWS: New research shows that patch-burn grazing, which mimics historic patterns of fire and grazing, significantly reduces wildfire fuels. What's more, it creates the kind of ...
Local Partners Mimic Beavers To Restore Streams In Wyoming
News

Local Partners Mimic Beavers To Restore Streams In Wyoming

SGI field conservationist Mandi Hirsch shares emerging "beaver dam analogue" technology with local partners, which is paying dividends for working lands and wildlife near ...
Final Report Released on 2017 Lesser Prairie-Chicken Aerial Survey
News

Final Report Released on 2017 Lesser Prairie-Chicken Aerial Survey

The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has released the detailed report of the 2017 aerial survey of lesser prairie-chickens. Read all about ...
Webinar: Estimating The Economic Impact Of Sage Grouse Conservation On Ranches
News

Webinar: Estimating The Economic Impact Of Sage Grouse Conservation On Ranches

When: Friday, September 29, 2017  |  10:00 AM MST Host: University of Wyoming Watch the On-Demand Replay ...
Digital Storefront Tells Stories of Public Land Sagebrush Partnerships
News

Digital Storefront Tells Stories of Public Land Sagebrush Partnerships

A new website, PartnersInTheSage.com, tells stories of how collaborative public-private sagebrush conservation benefits people, wildlife, and communities in the ...
Military, Conservationists, Rancher Join Forces For Economy And Wildlife In Nevada
News

Military, Conservationists, Rancher Join Forces For Economy And Wildlife In Nevada

The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative partners with the Dept. of Defense and others to conserve the Smith Creek Ranch in the heart of Nevada’s sagebrush ...
Do Elk Need Sagebrush?
Ask An Expert

Do Elk Need Sagebrush?

Historically, elk were found in all but five states in the U.S. However, due to over-hunting, elk populations declined from more than 10 million to less than 100,000 by the ...
Inmates Are Growing Sagebrush in Western Prisons for Wildlife Conservation
News

Inmates Are Growing Sagebrush in Western Prisons for Wildlife Conservation

By Ben Long in Outdoor Life | People incarcerated in state prisons in the West are working to help secure the future of the native big game and game birds of the American ...
New Conservation Agreements Protect Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat
News

New Conservation Agreements Protect Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat

NEWS: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has finalized permanent conservation agreements with a private landowner to conserve high-quality lesser ...
Grazing Management In Perspective: A Compatible Tool For Sage Grouse Conservation
News

Grazing Management In Perspective: A Compatible Tool For Sage Grouse Conservation

New research shows that — done right — livestock grazing may help conserve sage grouse habitat by keeping working ranches profitable and ...
COOL GREEN SCIENCE | The Stream Whisperer Restores Sage Grouse Habitat
News

COOL GREEN SCIENCE | The Stream Whisperer Restores Sage Grouse Habitat

by Brianna Randall | Bill Zeedyk teaches Westerners how to “think like water” to restore precious wet habitat in the sagebrush ...
New State of the Birds Report: Farm Bill Pays Off For People & Birds
News

New State of the Birds Report: Farm Bill Pays Off For People & Birds

The Farm Bill is America’s single largest source of conservation funding for private lands. The 2017 'State of the Birds' report shows the many benefits its programs have ...
USDA Releases Five-Year Strategy to Boost Forest Health and Help Golden-winged Warbler
News

USDA Releases Five-Year Strategy to Boost Forest Health and Help Golden-winged Warbler

NEWS: A new five-year conservation strategy details efforts to support private landowners managing for healthier forests in the Appalachian Mountains. It's part of an ongoing ...
Ranch Conservation Partnership Thrives In Eastern Montana
News

Ranch Conservation Partnership Thrives In Eastern Montana

by Leo Barthelmess | Ranchers working with the NRCS and others are helping sustain and improve habitat in a way that also improves ranch ...
New Framework Helps Plan Next Generation Of Sagebrush Restoration
News

New Framework Helps Plan Next Generation Of Sagebrush Restoration

Innovative new research on conifer removal spans the life cycle of sage grouse, helping managers increase the efficiency of future work to restore sagebrush ...
New Video Shows how LPC Range-wide Plan Works For Wildlife and Landowners
News

New Video Shows how LPC Range-wide Plan Works For Wildlife and Landowners

NEWS: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has released a new video show how the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-wide Conservation Plan is conserving habitat for ...
Sage Whiz Quiz | Do You Know Your Western Roots?
Sage Whiz Quiz

Sage Whiz Quiz | Do You Know Your Western Roots?

Test your knowledge of plants that live on sagebrush rangelands, and learn fun facts about native plants' root systems in the American ...
Latest Science Reveals Most Effective Conifer Removal Treatments
News

Latest Science Reveals Most Effective Conifer Removal Treatments

New research on conifer cutting and prescribed burning helps resource managers and landowners plan sagebrush conservation projects that deliver the best results for the bird ...
Webinar: Partnering with Beaver to Benefit Sage Grouse and Working Lands – Restoring Emerald Islands in the Sagebrush Sea
News

Webinar: Partnering with Beaver to Benefit Sage Grouse and Working Lands – Restoring Emerald Islands in the Sagebrush Sea

When: Wednesday, July 26, 2017, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. EST Host: Association of State Wetland Manager Click here to watch the on-demand ...
Aerial Surveys Confirm Lesser Prairie-Chicken Population Holding Steady
News

Aerial Surveys Confirm Lesser Prairie-Chicken Population Holding Steady

NEWS: Results are in for the 2017 lesser prairie-chicken aerial survey, and they’ve brought welcome news. The survey indicates an estimated breeding population of 33,269 ...
Meet Greg: A Sagebush Habitat Hero
News

Meet Greg: A Sagebush Habitat Hero

by Jodi Stemler | Check out this multimedia story about how an SGI-enrolled rancher is leading the way in stewarding working lands and wildlife on his ranch in Colorado's ...
Stewardship With Vision | David Spicer Conserves Habitat In Nevada
News

Stewardship With Vision | David Spicer Conserves Habitat In Nevada

Nevada rancher and miner shares his story of why he believes in conserving Nevada's Oasis Valley in a new video produced by the Western Landowners ...
Learning To Think Like Water & Photos From SGI’s 7th Annual Workshop
News

Learning To Think Like Water & Photos From SGI’s 7th Annual Workshop

Over 170 sagebrush conservation partners from around the West met in Colorado to learn what's working for the bird and the herd. Watch the video ...
Prairie-chicken Restoration Efforts Take Flight in Southeast Colorado
News

Prairie-chicken Restoration Efforts Take Flight in Southeast Colorado

LPCI NEWS RELEASE: Why did the lesser prairie-chicken cross the state line? If Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) biologists are successful, the answer will be to ...
Keeping Water In Colorado’s Gunnison Basin
News

Keeping Water In Colorado’s Gunnison Basin

A collaborative partnership using innovative techniques to restore wet meadows in the Gunnison Basin is paying off for people and ...
Take This Quiz To See If You’re A Sage Whiz | Pygmy Rabbit
Sage Whiz Quiz

Take This Quiz To See If You’re A Sage Whiz | Pygmy Rabbit

Learn cool facts and test your knowledge about the pygmy rabbit, one of 350 species that depends on healthy, intact sagebrush ...
Research Sheds Light on Nocturnal Habits of Lesser Prairie-Chickens
News

Research Sheds Light on Nocturnal Habits of Lesser Prairie-Chickens

NEWS: Until recently, scientists had very little data on the bird's after-hours behavior and habitat preferences. Researchers from Oklahoma State University are filling int he ...
Animal Tales: A Great White Sage Grouse
News

Animal Tales: A Great White Sage Grouse

by Tracie Fernandez | Learn how this puffed-up male sage grouse achieved its rare (lack of) color ... and whether it might work to attract females, ...
Video Series on Conserving Water in Sage Country
News

Video Series on Conserving Water in Sage Country

by Hannah Ryan | This three-part video series helps ranchers and partners learn about resources available for conserving precious wet habitat in the ...
Wildlife Journal Spotlights Lesser Prairie-Chicken Conservation
News

Wildlife Journal Spotlights Lesser Prairie-Chicken Conservation

NEWS: Lesser prairie-chickens take top billing in the latest issue of The Wildlife Professional, trade journal of The Wildlife Society, an international scientific and ...
How Do We Find (And Protect) Precious Wet Places In The West?
News

How Do We Find (And Protect) Precious Wet Places In The West?

Mesic areas comprise only 1-2% of the western landscape, but 80% of animals depend on them -- including sage grouse and livestock. Learn why they're important and how to ...
“Ranching Gone Right,” Thanks To Partners Like The Nature Conservancy
News

“Ranching Gone Right,” Thanks To Partners Like The Nature Conservancy

As a valued partner in the Sage Grouse Initiative, The Nature Conservancy works with landowners across the range on innovative grazing systems, conservation easements, and ...
Cherish The Soils And Roots That Support Life On The Range
News

Cherish The Soils And Roots That Support Life On The Range

The roots of wildflowers on the range support a hidden world of living organisms that produce healthy soils. Nurturing these native plants creates healthier soils and keeps ...
New Science: Sage Grouse Population Increases When Western Juniper Pushed Back
News

New Science: Sage Grouse Population Increases When Western Juniper Pushed Back

A new study funded in part by the NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative found that survival rates of both female sage grouse and their nests increased where encroaching juniper ...
Wildhorse Ranch Project: A Win-Win Partnership To Protect Sagebrush Range
News

Wildhorse Ranch Project: A Win-Win Partnership To Protect Sagebrush Range

Innovative conservation easement with ranchers, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Nevada Dept. of Wildlife, and NRCS preserves agricultural working lands, wildlife habitat, and ...
How Do Conservation Easements Work?
News

How Do Conservation Easements Work?

In Montana, landowners have partnered with local land trusts to conserve 2 million acres. Expert Lisa McCauley from NRCS explains why easements work for ranchers and ...
New Mexico Range Managers Put Science to Work for Prairie-Chickens
News

New Mexico Range Managers Put Science to Work for Prairie-Chickens

LPCI NEWS RELEASE: For wildlife biologist Randy Howard, a new mapping tool developed by lesser prairie-chicken researchers is an essential part of restoring habitat for ...
New USFWS Collaboration Expands Science Tools To Sage-Steppe
News

New USFWS Collaboration Expands Science Tools To Sage-Steppe

Thanks to partners like the USFWS, the outlook is brighter for maintaining intact, healthy sagebrush habitat for 350+ species and the hundreds of communities that depend on ...
Water Is Life: Introducing SGI’s Mesic Habitat Conservation Strategy
News

Water Is Life: Introducing SGI’s Mesic Habitat Conservation Strategy

The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative is proud to announce a new conservation strategy that empowers private ranchers and partners to protect and enhance the wet green places ...
Lessons from the Heath Hen
News

Lessons from the Heath Hen

From the failed attempt to save heath hens from extinction, we learned the importance of early intervention...and laid the groundwork for cooperative conservation of other ...
Sage Grouse Need Intact Landscapes For Long-Distance Movement
News

Sage Grouse Need Intact Landscapes For Long-Distance Movement

New science shows that keeping big landscapes healthy and connected is essential for maintaining bigger-than-expected sage grouse ...
10 Things You Can Do for Lesser Prairie-Chickens
News

10 Things You Can Do for Lesser Prairie-Chickens

NEWS: Whether or not you own prairie habitat, there's still a whole lot you can do on behalf of lesser prairie-chickens and other prairie wildlife ...
Operation Sage-Grouse: NWF Connects Youth and Conservation
News

Operation Sage-Grouse: NWF Connects Youth and Conservation

Check out this video from the National Wildlife Federation on win-win partnerships that are making the skies safer for sage grouse through fence ...
Lessons from the Heath Hen
News

Lessons from the Heath Hen

NEWS: Eighty-five years ago today, the last living heath hen was seen for the last time. Though the effort to save the heath hen was unsuccessful, it laid the groundwork for ...
Chords For Conservation: Music Inspired By The Sagebrush Sea
News

Chords For Conservation: Music Inspired By The Sagebrush Sea

Listen to this just-released song by the River Whyless -- featuring a new instrument created in honor of the sage grouse -- which was inspired by the band's experiences in the ...
Easement Conserves Habitat For Gunnison Sage-Grouse in Colorado
News

Easement Conserves Habitat For Gunnison Sage-Grouse in Colorado

The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative helps fund conservation easement that keeps prime ranchland open and protects wildlife for generations to ...
Chickens and Woody Encroachment: Research Presentations Available for Viewing
News

Chickens and Woody Encroachment: Research Presentations Available for Viewing

NEWS: On January 29, the Society for Range Management hosted an full-day symposium on the effects of woody encroachment on western grouse. The research presentations are now ...
Now Available! Online Replay Of Scientific Presentations On Woodland Expansion
News

Now Available! Online Replay Of Scientific Presentations On Woodland Expansion

Watch free 20-minute presentations featuring the latest science on how removing invading conifers boosts water availability, forage production, and grouse ...
Rancher K.D. Leander Leaves A Conservation Legacy in Eastern Washington
News

Rancher K.D. Leander Leaves A Conservation Legacy in Eastern Washington

This late rancher's early adoption of range conservation practices encouraged his neighbors to also enroll in Sage Grouse Initiative programs. Learn ...
Brave Sage Grouse Strike Out Solo Over Long Distances
News

Brave Sage Grouse Strike Out Solo Over Long Distances

New research shows that a few individual greater sage-grouse travel more widely travel than anyone suspected, which makes the overall population ...
Webinar: Cheap and Cheerful Stream and Riparian Restoration | Beaver Dam Analogues As Low-Cost Tool
News

Webinar: Cheap and Cheerful Stream and Riparian Restoration | Beaver Dam Analogues As Low-Cost Tool

When: March 22, 2017 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm EST Host: USDA NRCS Science and Technology Click here to watch the On-Demand ...
Webinar: Off-Site Water for Riparian Health and Livestock Performance
News

Webinar: Off-Site Water for Riparian Health and Livestock Performance

When: February 14, 2017 | 9-10 am PST Host: NRCS West Technology Center Click here to watch the On-Demand ...
What Do Sage Grouse Do All Winter?
News

What Do Sage Grouse Do All Winter?

Sage grouse are tough birds, surviving through cold winters in western North America. Learn how they thrive, even during the harshest ...
Free Live-Broadcast Symposium: Impacts of Woodland Expansion at the Society for Range Management Conference
News

Free Live-Broadcast Symposium: Impacts of Woodland Expansion at the Society for Range Management Conference

When: Jan. 31, 2017 in St. George, Utah Featuring 20 presentations on reducing woodland expansion! Click here for the On-Demand ...
Conifer Removal Boosts Sage Grouse Success
News

Conifer Removal Boosts Sage Grouse Success

New research shows that 86% of hens avoided nesting in sagebrush habitat invaded by conifers. Luckily, the studies also show that removing conifers in otherwise high-quality ...
Helping Texas Ranchers and Wildlife, One Plan at a Time 
News

Helping Texas Ranchers and Wildlife, One Plan at a Time 

NEWS: NRCS Range Management Specialist Clint Rollins works one-on-one with agricultural producers in the Texas Panhandle to develop conservation plans that benefit wildlife ...
$8 Million Fund Created to Improve Water Quality and Conserve Greater Sage-Grouse in the Eastern Sierra
News

$8 Million Fund Created to Improve Water Quality and Conserve Greater Sage-Grouse in the Eastern Sierra

Both the Bi-State population of greater sage-grouse and agricultural ranchlands will benefit from a just-announced $8 million USDA investment in California and ...
Symposium: Identifying and Managing Threats to Great Basin Greater Sage-Grouse Populations
News

Symposium: Identifying and Managing Threats to Great Basin Greater Sage-Grouse Populations

When: Tuesday, February 7, 2017 8:30am to 5:00pm Where: Peppermill Resort, Reno, Nevada Host: The Wildlife ...
Science Reveals Sage Advice: Cut (the Right) Trees to Save Bird and Herd
News

Science Reveals Sage Advice: Cut (the Right) Trees to Save Bird and Herd

New research shows that removing conifers can restore habitat for at-risk grouse as well as improve water availability and forage production for ...
Webinar: Living with Beavers | Tools for Coexistence
News

Webinar: Living with Beavers | Tools for Coexistence

When: January 24, 2014 | 9-10am PST Host: NRCS West Technology Center Click here to watch the On-Demand ...
Rangeland Science Journal Publishes Special Issue On Woody Plant Encroachment
News

Rangeland Science Journal Publishes Special Issue On Woody Plant Encroachment

PRESS RELEASE: This month, the Society for Range Management's scientific journal, Rangeland Ecology & Management, released a special issue focused entirely on the ...
Science to Solutions: Mesquite Encroachment Impacts Lesser Prairie-Chickens
News

Science to Solutions: Mesquite Encroachment Impacts Lesser Prairie-Chickens

PRESS RELEASE: New research study quantifies the significant impacts of honey mesquite encroachment on lesser prairie-chickens in the southern Great Plains. Read more ...
Rangeland Science Journal Publishes Special Issue On Reducing Woodland Expansion
News

Rangeland Science Journal Publishes Special Issue On Reducing Woodland Expansion

The latest research -- published in this month's special issue of SRM's Rangeland Ecology & Management science journal -- shows the benefits of removing conifers for grouse, ...
Fun Fact Friday: A Natural Winter Windbreak In Sagebrush
News

Fun Fact Friday: A Natural Winter Windbreak In Sagebrush

by Nancy Patterson, BLM | What are wildlife to do out in the sagebrush 'Big Empty' to protect themselves from harsh winter weather conditions? Let sagebrush come to the ...
Webinar: Rangeland Management Strategies and Tools – Promoting Resiliency and Addressing Invasive Species
News

Webinar: Rangeland Management Strategies and Tools – Promoting Resiliency and Addressing Invasive Species

When: Thurs., Jan. 12, 9:30 to 11:00AM MST Host: Western Governors' Association Watch the On-Demand ...
Guzzling Water & Planting Sagebrush | What’s Happening For Sage Grouse On Public Land In Montana
News

Guzzling Water & Planting Sagebrush | What’s Happening For Sage Grouse On Public Land In Montana

Since half of all habitat for greater sage-grouse is on public land, most of it managed by BLM, restoring public rangeland is vital for the birds to thrive. Check out these ...
A New Approach For Turning Science Into Action
News

A New Approach For Turning Science Into Action

Learn more about the "coproduction of actionable science." At the Sage Grouse Initiative, it means a lot of phone calls, coffee chats, field tours, and honest conversations ...
Oregon Rancher Mike Greeley Enhances Mahogany Mountain For The Bird And The Herd
News

Oregon Rancher Mike Greeley Enhances Mahogany Mountain For The Bird And The Herd

Rancher Mike Greeley uses conservation-minded management to sustain his working lands in eastern Oregon for wildlife and livestock. Check out this video of Mike on his ...
Fun Fact Friday: To Migrate Or To Staycation
News

Fun Fact Friday: To Migrate Or To Staycation

by Nancy Patterson, BLM | Learn which birds head south and which birds make their home on the sagebrush range during the chilly winter ...
NRCS to Expand Targeted Conservation Effort for Wildlife on Agricultural Lands
News

NRCS to Expand Targeted Conservation Effort for Wildlife on Agricultural Lands

NEWS: From the northern bobwhite to trout and salmon, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is adding dozens of new target species to its Working Lands For Wildlife ...
Colorado Ranchers Tap Sun To Deliver Water To Livestock & Improve Wildlife Habitat
News

Colorado Ranchers Tap Sun To Deliver Water To Livestock & Improve Wildlife Habitat

by Michael Neary | Solar-powered water systems, installed with funding from SGI in Colorado, let livestock drink more easily and take pressure off ponds and ...
Comprehensive ‘Ecosystem Resilience & Resistance’ Map Available For Entire Sage Grouse Range
News

Comprehensive ‘Ecosystem Resilience & Resistance’ Map Available For Entire Sage Grouse Range

Newly expanded visual tool on the SGI Web App allows managers to better predict and mitigate negative impacts of fire and cheatgrass across sagebrush ...
New Research Finds That Sage Grouse Prefer Nesting In Conifer-Free Landscapes
News

New Research Finds That Sage Grouse Prefer Nesting In Conifer-Free Landscapes

Scientists tracked sage grouse nest success in southern Oregon, and found that hens avoided sites where conifer cover exceeded 3% within 800m of their ...
Tag, you’re it! How do researchers track sage grouse chicks?
News

Tag, you’re it! How do researchers track sage grouse chicks?

Meet expert Mark Szczypinski with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. He tells us all about how to track sage grouse hens and their ...
Realizing “The True Potential” For Working Lands And Wildlife In Sagebrush Country
News

Realizing “The True Potential” For Working Lands And Wildlife In Sagebrush Country

The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative continues to build field capacity, expand our science team, and strengthen partnerships across the sagebrush landscape. Read our latest ...
#350Species – Autumn In The Sagebrush Ecosystem
News

#350Species – Autumn In The Sagebrush Ecosystem

by Nancy Patterson, BLM Rocky Mountain Region, via mypubliclands.tumblr.com | Greater sage-grouse, 350+ other species, and millions of people depend on the iconic sagebrush ...
Sagebrush Songbirds Under the Sage Grouse Umbrella
News

Sagebrush Songbirds Under the Sage Grouse Umbrella

New songbird maps provide tools to help expand the benefits of sage grouse conservation to more wildlife species in the sagebrush community. Learn more from our latest Science ...
Healthy Range Is Productive Range For Sage Grouse, Prairie Chickens, And Cows
News

Healthy Range Is Productive Range For Sage Grouse, Prairie Chickens, And Cows

Sage grouse and lesser prairie-chickens both need healthy rangeland to thrive. So do cattle. Learn more about how NRCS is supporting range conservation practices that help ...
SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: LPCI Conservation Practices Boost Lesser Prairie-Chicken Occupancy
News

SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: LPCI Conservation Practices Boost Lesser Prairie-Chicken Occupancy

SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: A recent study—the first part of a multi-year research project—shows that lesser prairie-chicken occupancy increases in areas where landowners are ...
Roundtable: Rangeland Challenges in Western States, Wildfire and Habitat Conservation
News

Roundtable: Rangeland Challenges in Western States, Wildfire and Habitat Conservation

When: Oct. 20, 2016 Hosts: Western Governors' Association Click here to watch the ...
Collaborative Conservation Is Paying Off For The Sagebrush Ecosystem
News

Collaborative Conservation Is Paying Off For The Sagebrush Ecosystem

A new joint report and story map highlight continued sagebrush conservation partnerships that are working for wildlife and ranchers in the West. Learn more about "Greater ...
New Research Provides Insights into Sage Grouse DNA
News

New Research Provides Insights into Sage Grouse DNA

by Jennifer Hayes and Brianna Randall | New SGI research finds five genetic subpopulations of sage grouse in Montana and the Dakotas, which are synonymous with the existing ...
What’s The Difference Between Gunnison And Greater Sage-Grouse?
News

What’s The Difference Between Gunnison And Greater Sage-Grouse?

Did you know that Gunnison sage-grouse have longer ponytails than greater sage-grouse? Learn more about the differences between the two species from expert Marcella Fremgen, a ...
Tracking Success – 2016 Report | Maintaining Momentum To Conserve Sagebrush Country
News

Tracking Success – 2016 Report | Maintaining Momentum To Conserve Sagebrush Country

As the Sage Grouse Initiative finishes our 6th year, we are proud to be a model for how to enhance working lands and wildlife. Check out our "Tracking Success - 2016 Report" ...
New study measures fence collision mortality, informs conservation
News

New study measures fence collision mortality, informs conservation

NEWS: A recent study of more than 1,700 miles of livestock fences in Kansas and Colorado found little evidence of fence collision mortality. Read about the report and its ...
SGI Workshop Explores ‘Cheap and Cheerful’ Riparian Restoration to Benefit Wildlife and Ranchers
News

SGI Workshop Explores ‘Cheap and Cheerful’ Riparian Restoration to Benefit Wildlife and Ranchers

At a recent SGI-sponsored workshop, practitioners from around the West learned from beavers about how to heal streams and store water longer on the range. See the photos and ...
A Special Recipe For Saving Sage Grouse | Wildlife Photographic Magazine Feature
News

A Special Recipe For Saving Sage Grouse | Wildlife Photographic Magazine Feature

by Brianna Randall | This multi-media story about the Sage Grouse Initiative is the feature in the new issue of Wildlife Photographic Magazine. Learn more about SGI's ...
Report: Fence Markers Work To Prevent Sage Grouse Collisions
News

Report: Fence Markers Work To Prevent Sage Grouse Collisions

A new report released by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies -- and funded by an NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant -- is the first study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of ...
Kennedy Ranch Conservation Improvements Benefit Both Livestock And Wildlife In Utah
News

Kennedy Ranch Conservation Improvements Benefit Both Livestock And Wildlife In Utah

In northeastern Utah, the Kennedy family's land ethic and commitment to improving natural resources has led them to expand their ranch. Learn how SGI helped them install water ...
The Tree that Ate the West | bioGraphic Magazine
News

The Tree that Ate the West | bioGraphic Magazine

by Rebecca Heisman,bioGraphic | When mature juniper cover reaches just 4 percent—picture taking a standard checkerboard and filling in just two and a half of the ...
“It’s About Working Lands For Agriculture And Working Lands For Wildlife”
News

“It’s About Working Lands For Agriculture And Working Lands For Wildlife”

by Lori Valdez | In Lavina, Montana, the Wessel Ranch worked with the Sage Grouse Initiative to improve rangeland for their cattle and prime habitat for wildlife like sage ...
Why Grow Sagebrush Seedlings in Prisons?
News

Why Grow Sagebrush Seedlings in Prisons?

The Sagebrush Project, part of the Sustainability in Prisons Project, expands the opportunities for 175 inmates in 11 prisons across 6 states by teaching them to grow ...
Latest Report Shows Promising Progress To Protect The Sagebrush Sea
News

Latest Report Shows Promising Progress To Protect The Sagebrush Sea

This latest report chronicles the results from April through June across 11 western states, including collaborative efforts to conserve over 2.8 million acres of habitat for ...
Report: Maintaining Sagebrush-Covered Landscapes Keeps Water on the Land for Ranchers and Wildlife
News

Report: Maintaining Sagebrush-Covered Landscapes Keeps Water on the Land for Ranchers and Wildlife

by Justin Fritscher | Removing invading conifer trees improves the health of sagebrush ecosystems, providing better habitat for wildlife and better forage for livestock. And ...
Sagebrush Rangelands Help Maintain Water Availability
News

Sagebrush Rangelands Help Maintain Water Availability

Water delivery is delayed by an average of nine days in sagebrush systems compared to juniper-dominated systems. Holding water later into the summer season helps the sagebrush ...
Helmick Family Conserves Vital Habitat For Sage Grouse In Idaho
News

Helmick Family Conserves Vital Habitat For Sage Grouse In Idaho

To this multi-generational family, conservation and ranching are one and the same. Learn how they've worked with SGI to increase carrying capacity and grass production for the ...
BREAKING NEWS: BLM Signs Agreement To Expand Collaborative Sagebrush Conservation Model
News

BREAKING NEWS: BLM Signs Agreement To Expand Collaborative Sagebrush Conservation Model

A new partnership between the Bureau of Land Management and the Intermountain West Joint Venture will build on the successful model pioneered by the NRCS-led Sage Grouse ...
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Delists Lesser Prairie-Chicken in Accordance with Court Order
News

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Delists Lesser Prairie-Chicken in Accordance with Court Order

NEWS: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) yesterday fulfilled a court ruling that had vacated its Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing decision, by officially removing ...
New Web-Based Tool Helps Save Sage Grouse From Fence Collisions
News

New Web-Based Tool Helps Save Sage Grouse From Fence Collisions

SGI's interactive web app now features a map layer that helps land managers prioritize where to mark high-risk fences to protect birds. This user-friendly tool allows ranchers ...
The Science of Sagebrush: Measuring the Resilience of Rangelands
News

The Science of Sagebrush: Measuring the Resilience of Rangelands

by Joshua Dillon | An Oregon field trip with SGI partners examines the ability of sagebrush landscapes to recover from a fire. Read the full story ...
Scientific Research Shows How To Reduce The Risk Of Crop Cultivation To Protect Sage Grouse
News

Scientific Research Shows How To Reduce The Risk Of Crop Cultivation To Protect Sage Grouse

A new scientific study published in Biological Conservation explains how to reduce the threat of converting native sagebrush habitat into crops. Read how the research can be ...
Fire Helps Kansas Rancher Restore Redcedar-infested Grasslands
News

Fire Helps Kansas Rancher Restore Redcedar-infested Grasslands

LPCI PRESS RELEASE: When Tom Carr was a boy, redcedars were a rarity on his family's ranch lands in south-central Kansas. By the early 2000s, cedars had overtaken the ...
Latest Aerial Survey Documents Stable Lesser Prairie-Chicken Population Trends
News

Latest Aerial Survey Documents Stable Lesser Prairie-Chicken Population Trends

NEWS: The 2016 lesser prairie-chicken aerial survey shows bird population trends remain fairly stable after five years of aerial survey data collection. While numbers were ...
Getting Our Hands Dirty at the 6th Annual Sage Grouse Initiative Workshop Tour
News

Getting Our Hands Dirty at the 6th Annual Sage Grouse Initiative Workshop Tour

Last week, range managers, ecologists, and wildlife biologists gathered in Montana to learn from landowners what works for the bird and the herd. Check out the photo story ...
New Easements in Montana Protect the Longest Known Sage Grouse Migration Corridor
News

New Easements in Montana Protect the Longest Known Sage Grouse Migration Corridor

The Nature Conservancy has secured conservation easements that preserve both the West's ranching heritage and sage-grass habitat on 25,000 acres of the Carroll Ranch. The ...
Rockin’ TD Ranch Champions Rangeland Conservation in Nevada
News

Rockin’ TD Ranch Champions Rangeland Conservation in Nevada

Tony and Diane Stobiecki partner with the Sage Grouse Initiative to improve habitat for wildlife and their ranch's bottom line by putting in place projects that improve water ...
Passion for Wild Things–A Poet’s Perspective on WLFW Conservation
News

Passion for Wild Things–A Poet’s Perspective on WLFW Conservation

Behind all the science and strategy, a deep caring for the land underlies enduring conservation efforts within the Working Lands For Wildlife program, beautifully rendered in ...
Permanent Protection for Prairie-Chicken Habitat in Kansas
News

Permanent Protection for Prairie-Chicken Habitat in Kansas

NEWS: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has finalized the purchase of approximately 30,000 acres of high-quality lesser prairie-chicken habitat in ...
Teleconference: Broader Application of Working Lands for Wildlife
News

Teleconference: Broader Application of Working Lands for Wildlife

Monday, June 20, 2016 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST Watch the On-Demand Replay of this ...
Ask An Expert | How Does Removing Conifers Help Oregon’s Grouse?
News

Ask An Expert | How Does Removing Conifers Help Oregon’s Grouse?

Wildlife biologist Fozz Foster works on restoring and improving habitat in Oregon's sagebrush sea. In this 'Ask an Expert' interview, he tells SGI about how he works ...
Secretary Jewell Announces $10 Million for Wildfire Resilience in the West
News

Secretary Jewell Announces $10 Million for Wildfire Resilience in the West

The new funds announced today by Secretary Jewell will complement Sage Grouse Initiative's ongoing, cooperative work to remove conifers and restore sagebrush habitat in ...
Discussion Sessions: Rangeland Fire Management, Priority Science Needs
News

Discussion Sessions: Rangeland Fire Management, Priority Science Needs

When: May 18, 11am-1pm & May 20, 2-4pm Host: Department of the Interior Click here to ...
Symposium Replay: Putting Resilience and Resistance Concepts into Practice
News

Symposium Replay: Putting Resilience and Resistance Concepts into Practice

Symposium presented at the 'Sagebrush Ecosystems Conservation: All Lands, All Hands' conference in Feb. 2016 Sponsors: Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, The ...
Partnership Positions Allow NRCS To Double The Amount of Conservation In The West
News

Partnership Positions Allow NRCS To Double The Amount of Conservation In The West

Thanks to hundreds of partners who help us achieve wildlife conservation through sustainable ranching, the Sage Grouse Initiative, has proven to be a model for cooperative, ...
Webinar: Gunnison Basin Riparian and Wet Meadow Restoration and Resilience Project
News

Webinar: Gunnison Basin Riparian and Wet Meadow Restoration and Resilience Project

Thursday May 12, 2016 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. MST Watch the On-Demand ...
USDA Unveils Three-Year Conservation Strategy for Lesser Prairie-Chicken on Working Rangelands
News

USDA Unveils Three-Year Conservation Strategy for Lesser Prairie-Chicken on Working Rangelands

Just like in sage grouse country, the recipe for success to save the lesser prairie-chicken (an iconic grassland bird of the southern Great Plains) is investing in proactive, ...
USDA Unveils Three-Year Conservation Strategy for Lesser Prairie-Chicken
News

USDA Unveils Three-Year Conservation Strategy for Lesser Prairie-Chicken

LPCI PRESS RELEASE: The USDA today announced the release of a three-year conservation strategy that will guide the voluntary restoration of 500,000 acres of habitat for the ...
Oregon Ranchers Raise Cattle With A Conservation Vision
News

Oregon Ranchers Raise Cattle With A Conservation Vision

"Our belief is that we need to make things better, and leave a legacy for our kids and our grandkids and the neighborhood as a whole," says Oregon rancher Mark Bennett. Read ...
SGI Introduces New Resources That Show Why Roots Matter in the Sage-Steppe
News

SGI Introduces New Resources That Show Why Roots Matter in the Sage-Steppe

In the West's sagebrush sea, most of the plant matter grows below your feet -- just like an upside-down forest. SGI is releasing a new poster and postcard that show the ...
Conservation Integral At O’Tooles’ Ladder Ranch in Wyoming
News

Conservation Integral At O’Tooles’ Ladder Ranch in Wyoming

Pat and Sharon O’Toole make their living by ranching on the sagebrush sea along the Wyoming-Colorado border. They raise sheep and cattle, sage grouse and trout, as well as ...
Map Layer Identifies Risk of Converting Sagebrush to Cropland
News

Map Layer Identifies Risk of Converting Sagebrush to Cropland

Today, the Sage Grouse Initiative is unveiling a new layer on our interactive web application that shows where the risk of cropland conversion is highest. The new "cultivation ...
Plans To Save Bi-State Sage Grouse in Nevada Gain Momentum
News

Plans To Save Bi-State Sage Grouse in Nevada Gain Momentum

By Sean Whaley | “We’re ‘all in’ to make a difference for this bird over the long term,” said Thad Heater, Sage Grouse Initiative's national coordinator, in this ...
New Science: Conifer Removal Restores Habitat for Lesser Prairie Chickens
News

New Science: Conifer Removal Restores Habitat for Lesser Prairie Chickens

Conifer encroachment spells bad news for birds that need intact, wide open spaces--sage grouse and lesser prairie-chickens included. This new report released by our partner, ...
New NRCS Resource Aims to Reduce Wildfire Impacts in Sage Grouse Country
News

New NRCS Resource Aims to Reduce Wildfire Impacts in Sage Grouse Country

A new resource released by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will help private and public land managers work collaboratively to get ahead of the curve and ...
SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: Redcedar Removal Restores Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat
News

SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: Redcedar Removal Restores Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat

SCIENCE TO SOLUTIONS: The science is in! A new study resoundingly confirms that redcedar encroachment greatly impacts lesser prairie-chickens. Our new Science to Solutions ...
Seeding Techniques for Sagebrush Community Restoration After Fire
News

Seeding Techniques for Sagebrush Community Restoration After Fire

By Jeff Ott, Anne Halford, and Nancy Shaw | This new Great Basin Fact Sheet outlines important considerations and options for post-fire seeding, including the selection of ...
Montana Outdoors Magazine | “Ranching the Best Hope for Grassland Songbirds”
News

Montana Outdoors Magazine | “Ranching the Best Hope for Grassland Songbirds”

by Catherine Wightman | Ranchers manage their land to sustain grass production, which benefits bovines and birds on Montana's agricultural ...
Growing Spirit of Collaboration, Partnership & Innovation is “The West at its Best”
News

Growing Spirit of Collaboration, Partnership & Innovation is “The West at its Best”

By Jason Weller and Larry Selzer | This opinion article by USDA-NRCS Chief Weller and The Conservation Fund President and CEO, Larry Selzer describes how the Sage Grouse ...
How Do Sage Grouse Mate?
News

How Do Sage Grouse Mate?

Learn for sagebrush expert Trisha Cracroft, NRCS Idaho State Biologist, about when sage grouse congregate to strut their stuff, and why healthy sagebrush is important for hens ...
CSU Researcher’s Work Boosts Sage Grouse Conservation Project
News

CSU Researcher’s Work Boosts Sage Grouse Conservation Project

by Mary Guiden | “The new web app and map make sure people on the ground have the best science," says Dave Naugle, SGI Science ...
New Research + Movie: Wet Habitats On Private Lands Critical For Sage Grouse
News

New Research + Movie: Wet Habitats On Private Lands Critical For Sage Grouse

A new study and a complementary video of two hens' summer movements show that wet islands of green in the sagebrush sea provide vital foraging habitat for growing sage grouse ...
Webinar: Sagebrush Ecosystem Curriculum Training
News

Webinar: Sagebrush Ecosystem Curriculum Training

When: Thursday, March 9, 2016 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. PST Host: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Watch the recorded webinar ...
The Progressive Rancher | Science and Tech Bolster USDA, Partners’ Conservation Work in Western States
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The Progressive Rancher | Science and Tech Bolster USDA, Partners’ Conservation Work in Western States

by Heather Emmons | The Progressive Rancher published the following story about the Sage Grouse Initiative's new interactive web application in its March 2016 issue. Read on ...
Webinar: Strategic Cheatgrass Management in Sagebrush Ecosystems
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Webinar: Strategic Cheatgrass Management in Sagebrush Ecosystems

Wednesday, April 6, 2016 10:00 – 11:00 am MST Hosts: NRCS West National Technology Support Center Click here for On-Demand Webinar ...
SGI Unveils Interactive Web Application To Bolster Wildlife Conservation Work
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SGI Unveils Interactive Web Application To Bolster Wildlife Conservation Work

Today, the Sage Grouse Initiative is unveiling a new tool to catalyze and improve habitat conservation efforts across the western United States. The free SGI Interactive Web ...
Conservation Working For Ranchers And Sage Grouse In The West
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Conservation Working For Ranchers And Sage Grouse In The West

by The Conservation Fund | The Conservation Fund's Wyoming Sage Grouse Campaign has conserved 15 properties in partnership with SGI and others. We are proud to partner with ...
Webinar: Birds in the Sagebrush Ecosystem
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Webinar: Birds in the Sagebrush Ecosystem

Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Host: Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Click here for On-Demand Webinar ...
Partnerships on the Range Continue to Accelerate Conservation
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Partnerships on the Range Continue to Accelerate Conservation

Our team of dedicated and enthusiastic range conservationists, wildlife biologists, and natural resource specialists make a difference for landowners and for wildlife across ...
How do Lesser Prairie-Chickens Survive the Winter?
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How do Lesser Prairie-Chickens Survive the Winter?

FIELD REPORT: Biting winds, deep snows, frigid temperatures--how do prairie wildlife make it through the winter? LPCI wildlife biologist Amy Erickson reports in from Portales, ...
A Game-Changing Approach to Conservation in the West
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A Game-Changing Approach to Conservation in the West

“My neighbors have all been getting on board one by one, now that they are seeing how well it’s working,” says Oregon rancher John O’Keeffe. Read this opinion piece by ...
Tracks in the Sand
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Tracks in the Sand

FIELD REPORT: LPCI wildlife biologist Amy Erickson explores the sand dunes of eastern New Mexico, where tracks in the sand reveal the presence of the many animals that live ...
Grazing and Sagebrush Treatments: A 25-year Case Study in Utah
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Grazing and Sagebrush Treatments: A 25-year Case Study in Utah

The newest Science to Solutions report is based on findings from a 25-year case study on a ranch in Utah. The study shows that sustainable grazing practices and sagebrush ...
NRCS and Texas Ranchers Team up for Conservation
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NRCS and Texas Ranchers Team up for Conservation

NEWS: By taking part in voluntary NRCS conservation planning and range practices, Texas ranchers are conserving vital habitat for lesser prairie-chickens, State ...
New Report Highlights LPCI Conservation Across the Range
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New Report Highlights LPCI Conservation Across the Range

LPCI PRESS RELEASE: New report highlights Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative habitat conservation successes across the lesser prairie-chicken's range in the Southern Great ...
The Future For Sage Grouse, Elk, & the 40 Million Acres of Sagebrush They Share | Bugle Magazine
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The Future For Sage Grouse, Elk, & the 40 Million Acres of Sagebrush They Share | Bugle Magazine

By Nicky Ouellet | This article appeared in the Jan/Feb 2016 issue of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's "Bugle" magazine, and explores how conservation efforts can benefit ...
Webinar: Grazing Strategies for Riparian and Wet Meadow Improvement in the Sagebrush Steppe
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Webinar: Grazing Strategies for Riparian and Wet Meadow Improvement in the Sagebrush Steppe

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. PST Click here for On-Demand Webinar ...
The Role of Sand Sagebrush in Prairie Grasslands
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The Role of Sand Sagebrush in Prairie Grasslands

FIELD REPORT: Roll the gray-green foliage of sand sagebrush between your fingers, and you’ll catch the spicy aroma of a plant that’s an important part of the prairie ...
Human Connections Drive Habitat Conservation
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Human Connections Drive Habitat Conservation

By Tiffany Russell | This blog is about connecting people to talk about how wildlife and humans can thrive together. It describes a recent Ranch Conservation Tour, co-hosted ...
Woody Fuels Reduction in Wyoming Big Sagebrush Communities
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Woody Fuels Reduction in Wyoming Big Sagebrush Communities

By Eugene W. Schupp, Chad S. Boyd, and Shane Green | This new Great Basin Fact Sheet discusses how reducing woody plant cover can increase the production of perennial grasses ...
Texas Rancher Creates Habitat Legacy
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Texas Rancher Creates Habitat Legacy

NEWS: For third-generation farmer and rancher Steve Rader, diversity is the key to ranch sustainability. Read about how his range conservation practices are creating a ...
Assessing Impacts of Fire on Runoff and Erosion
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Assessing Impacts of Fire on Runoff and Erosion

Frederick B. Pierson, C. Jason Williams and Peter R. Robichaud | This fact sheet provides an overview of the hydrologic impacts of fire, as well as the effectiveness of ...
Seeding Big Sagebrush Successfully on Intermountain Rangelands
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Seeding Big Sagebrush Successfully on Intermountain Rangelands

By Susan E. Meyer and Thomas W. Warren | This fact sheet provides land managers with state-of-the-art information on establishing big sagebrush through direct seeding, ...
Field Staff Continue to Make a Big Difference for Wildlife and People
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Field Staff Continue to Make a Big Difference for Wildlife and People

Read the latest report that tells the conservation story of the Sage Grouse Initiative's Strategic Watershed Action Team, and the impressive numbers behind their hard work in ...
Landowners Create Legacy Of Open Land Across The West
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Landowners Create Legacy Of Open Land Across The West

By Steve Holmer | The American Bird Conservancy's blog features the Sage Grouse Initiative as a case study for how partnerships with private landowners are the key to ...
Assessing Fuel Loads in Sagebrush Steppe and PJ Woodlands
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Assessing Fuel Loads in Sagebrush Steppe and PJ Woodlands

By Stephen C. Bunting and Jeff Rose | This fact sheet helps define wildland fuels and review the approaches used to assess fuel loads in the Great ...
Wind Erosion Following Wildfire in Great Basin Ecosystems
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Wind Erosion Following Wildfire in Great Basin Ecosystems

By Matthew J. Germino | Wind erosion is a problem in the Great Basin, particularly following large wildfires. This factsheet helps resource managers with a "how to" for ...
New Study on Habitat Use Yields Insights for Prairie-Chicken Management
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New Study on Habitat Use Yields Insights for Prairie-Chicken Management

LPCI PRESS RELEASE: A recently published research study examines factors affecting space use by female prairie-chickens at ten sites across the Great ...
Management of Aspen in a Changing Environment
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Management of Aspen in a Changing Environment

By: Douglas J. Shinneman, Anne S. Halford, Cheri Howell, Kevin D. Krasnow, and Eva K. Strand | This fact sheet provides information to help identify different aspen types, ...
Kansas Rancher Puts Expired CRP Grasslands to Work for Cattle and Wildlife
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Kansas Rancher Puts Expired CRP Grasslands to Work for Cattle and Wildlife

LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Kansas rancher Dwight Abell is shifting his expired CRP grasslands to cattle grazing with LPCI assistance, a win-win proposition for his cattle operation ...
LPCI Partners Awarded for Conservation Efforts
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LPCI Partners Awarded for Conservation Efforts

LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Two Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative partners receive the Hamerstrom Award for their important contributions to prairie grouse ...
The Sage-Grouse’s Next Dance | What the Recent Decision Means for the Bird and Conservation
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The Sage-Grouse’s Next Dance | What the Recent Decision Means for the Bird and Conservation

By Holly Copeland. “So what is your take on the sage-grouse ruling?” This beautiful dancing bird has been in my thoughts almost daily for the past nine years, as it has ...
Saving Sage Grouse | Conserving Montana’s Largest Game Bird
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Saving Sage Grouse | Conserving Montana’s Largest Game Bird

By Brianna Randall. Stamping my feet on the frozen ground, I waited impatiently for an elusive football-sized bird to appear in the murky pre-dawn light. A spotting scope ...
Safer Flights for Sage Grouse Over Washington State, Thanks To Dedicated Field Staff
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Safer Flights for Sage Grouse Over Washington State, Thanks To Dedicated Field Staff

Michael Brown, a Sage Grouse Initiative range and wildlife conservationist in Washington, forged a new connection with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners Program to ...
New LPCI Video Spotlights Conservation Reserve Program
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New LPCI Video Spotlights Conservation Reserve Program

LPCI PRESS RELEASE: How does the Conservation Reserve Program benefit lesser prairie-chickens and the private landowners who steward their habitat? A newly released 3-minute ...
Historic Conservation Campaign Protects Greater Sage-Grouse | ESA Listing Averted
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Historic Conservation Campaign Protects Greater Sage-Grouse | ESA Listing Averted

An historic conservation partnership helped the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determine that the species did not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. Now in ...
New Guide Available | Sagebrush Bird Communities in the Intermountain West
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New Guide Available | Sagebrush Bird Communities in the Intermountain West

A new tool is available for land managers in sagebrush country. The Sagebrush Bird Habitat Guide, created by several of our partners, provides information on breeding habitat ...
New Study Affirms Lesser Prairie-Chicken Research Practices
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New Study Affirms Lesser Prairie-Chicken Research Practices

NEWS: New study demonstrates that the research techniques of capture and radio-tagging do not negatively influence the survival of lesser ...
Building Bridges | Ranchers Are Stewards of the Land
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Building Bridges | Ranchers Are Stewards of the Land

In recent years, a new appreciation is taking hold in the West about the role and benefits of sustainable ranching. The article below captures the essence of why we believe ...
Ranchers and Conservationists Combine to Help Sage Grouse
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Ranchers and Conservationists Combine to Help Sage Grouse

Two national conservation leaders from the USDA-NRCS and the National Audubon Society co-wrote this recent editorial about how targeted, proactive conservation on agricultural ...
Texas Rancher Creates Haven for Lesser Prairie Chickens
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Texas Rancher Creates Haven for Lesser Prairie Chickens

NEWS: James Blackwell, a third-generation Texas landowner, has participated in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) since 1986, improving habitat for lesser prairie-chickens ...
New England Cottontail | Another Success Story for Proactive Voluntary Conservation
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New England Cottontail | Another Success Story for Proactive Voluntary Conservation

Landowners on the East Coast brought about a major success today with their voluntary conservation efforts for the New England cottontail. Partners announced that foresters ...
Sagebrush Songbirds Benefit from Sage Grouse Habitat Restoration
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Sagebrush Songbirds Benefit from Sage Grouse Habitat Restoration

New research released as part of the Sage Grouse Initiative's Science to Solutions series shows that restoring sagebrush ecosystems not only benefits ranching and sage grouse ...
Bi-Partisan Commentary | Voluntary Conservation Works Across Party Lines
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Bi-Partisan Commentary | Voluntary Conservation Works Across Party Lines

A new bi-partisan commentary came out yesterday in Roll Call by Bruce Knight and Dave White, both former chiefs for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. These two ...
Sage Grouse Conservation Leaders Recognized in California & Nevada
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Sage Grouse Conservation Leaders Recognized in California & Nevada

This month, SGI and SWAT staff gathered together on the California-Nevada border to share notes, and learn from the unprecedented conservation efforts centered around the ...
New Tools For Land Managers | Predicting Vegetation Response to Treatments and Wildfire
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New Tools For Land Managers | Predicting Vegetation Response to Treatments and Wildfire

Maintaining a resilient sagebrush steppe is job number one for sustaining sage grouse populations in the West. New tools are available to help conservationists better assess ...
New Sage Grouse Strategy Unveiled: $760 Million Invested by 2018
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New Sage Grouse Strategy Unveiled: $760 Million Invested by 2018

The Sage Grouse Initiative has enrolled 1,129 ranchers to conserve 4.4 million acres. We plan to double those numbers by 2018 with a new investment strategy that invests ...
High Country News Sage Grouse Story | The Endangered Species Act’s Biggest Experiment
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High Country News Sage Grouse Story | The Endangered Species Act’s Biggest Experiment

High Country News senior editor Jodi Peterson does an excellent job of introducing readers to the conservation history of sage grouse, and the landscape-scale collaborative ...
Department of Defense Dedicates $2 Million to Protect Sage Grouse in Nevada
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Department of Defense Dedicates $2 Million to Protect Sage Grouse in Nevada

The Department of Defense announced more than $2 million in funding from the Military Services’ Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program to protect ...
Wildfire Management Strategies | New Video Shows Projects that Protect the Sagebrush Sea
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Wildfire Management Strategies | New Video Shows Projects that Protect the Sagebrush Sea

A new video by Steve Stuebner shows how fire prevention policies and ambitious rangeland restoration strategies are working to protect prime sage grouse ...
New Report | Sage Grouse Populations On the Rise
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New Report | Sage Grouse Populations On the Rise

According to a new report by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the population of the greater sage-grouse has grown by nearly two-thirds since 2013 across ...
New Research Shows Grazing Plans Are Good for Grouse and for Bugs
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New Research Shows Grazing Plans Are Good for Grouse and for Bugs

Learn how Montana State University entomologist Hayes Goosey is studying "a mini-metropolis of arthropods" on five ranches in eastern Montana where the Sage Grouse Initiative ...
Service Learning For Sage Grouse | University Students Deliver Results in California
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Service Learning For Sage Grouse | University Students Deliver Results in California

Last month, university students pursuing careers in natural resource conservation participated in a service-learning project that had big benefits for birds, the participants, ...
Dedicated Field Staff Make a Difference for Sage Grouse West-wide
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Dedicated Field Staff Make a Difference for Sage Grouse West-wide

SGI's Strategic Watershed Action Team’s dedicated and enthusiastic range conservationists, wildlife biologists, and natural resource specialists put in place plenty of ...
Marking Fences Saves Lives in Sage Grouse Country
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Marking Fences Saves Lives in Sage Grouse Country

The article below was adapted from this post written by Ron Francis and Lori Valadez, which appeared on the USDA Blog. In the ...
Success on the Range | New Montana Partnership Highlights Benefit of Cooperative Conservation
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Success on the Range | New Montana Partnership Highlights Benefit of Cooperative Conservation

The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative is pioneering a conservation approach that invites cooperation over conflict across the West. This recipe for success is transferable ...
Establishing Big Sagebrush and Other Shrubs from Planting Stock
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Establishing Big Sagebrush and Other Shrubs from Planting Stock

Bareroot or container seedlings can be used to quickly re-establish big sagebrush and other native shrubs post-fire or other disturbances in situations where direct seeding is ...
Post-Fire Grazing Management in the Great Basin
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Post-Fire Grazing Management in the Great Basin

Successful post-fire recovery hinges on the growth of perennial understory plants, especially perennial grasses that provide livestock forage and wildlife habitat. This fact ...
Fuel Breaks That Work
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Fuel Breaks That Work

This fact sheet provides a framework for using established fuel breaks for protecting sagebrush ecosystems that are prone to fire due to the invasion of nonnative annual ...
Reducing Cultivation of Grazing Lands Conserves Sage Grouse
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Reducing Cultivation of Grazing Lands Conserves Sage Grouse

In the northeast part of sage grouse range, 70% of the best habitat is privately owned-–and the single greatest threat in this region is cultivation of native sagebrush ...
Conifer Removal in the Sagebrush Steppe
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Conifer Removal in the Sagebrush Steppe

This transition from shrub steppe to woodland has broad, concerning impacts on ecosystem function and services. This fact sheet explains the "why when, where, and how" of ...
Reestablishing Perennial-Dominated Plant Communities in Medusahead-Invaded Sagebrush Rangeland
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Reestablishing Perennial-Dominated Plant Communities in Medusahead-Invaded Sagebrush Rangeland

This fact sheet gives tools and strategies for reestablishing perennial-dominated plant communities in medusahead-invaded areas, which helps restore and protect vital ...
Limiting Medusahead Invasion and Impacts in the Great Basin
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Limiting Medusahead Invasion and Impacts in the Great Basin

Limiting the spread of invasive medusahead is critical, since this non-native plant decreases biodiversity, degrades wildlife habitat, reduces livestock forage, increases the ...
Putting Resilience and Resistance Concepts into Practice
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Putting Resilience and Resistance Concepts into Practice

This fact sheet is designed to assist land managers in using resilience and resistance concepts to assess risks, prioritize management activities, and select appropriate ...
Aerial survey shows 25% increase in lesser prairie-chicken population
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Aerial survey shows 25% increase in lesser prairie-chicken population

NEWS: Abundant spring rainfall, along with ongoing conservation efforts, has helped increase lesser prairie-chicken populations approximately 25 percent from 2014 to 2015, ...
Where the Sage Grouse Roam: Ranching for Conservation in Colorado
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Where the Sage Grouse Roam: Ranching for Conservation in Colorado

This story on Colorado rancher Wes McStay's conservation practices comes from "Where the sage grouse roam" by Lauren Blair. This 3-part series appeared in the Craig Daily ...
Range-wide Research Effort Sheds Light on Lesser Prairie-Chickens
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Range-wide Research Effort Sheds Light on Lesser Prairie-Chickens

NEWS: This excellent feature story in Science Magazine describes the unprecedented, range-wide research effort aimed at understanding lesser prairie-chicken habits, needs, and ...
Rancher Weathers Drought with LPCI Conservation Assistance
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Rancher Weathers Drought with LPCI Conservation Assistance

LPCI PRESS RELEASE: Rancher Bill Barby of southwest Kansas weathered recent severe drought with the help of federal wildlife habitat enhancement programs. Read his story ...
Stories From the Range: New Report Highlights Ranchers Restoring Habitat for Sage Grouse
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Stories From the Range: New Report Highlights Ranchers Restoring Habitat for Sage Grouse

We are pleased to announce the arrival of the Sand County Foundation's publication "Stories From The Range," which features six different ranchers' sage grouse conservation ...
National Geographic Story: Can Sage-Grouse Be Saved Without Shutting Down the West?
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National Geographic Story: Can Sage-Grouse Be Saved Without Shutting Down the West?

Last week, National Geographic Magazine featured an in-depth story on sage grouse, including SGI's conservation efforts centered around these dwindling upland ...
Round-up of Ranching Success Stories for Sage Grouse
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Round-up of Ranching Success Stories for Sage Grouse

The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative partners with private landowners to put in place conservation projects like these examples, which will protect the sagebrush sea, western ...
LPCI Films Stewardship in Action
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LPCI Films Stewardship in Action

FIELD REPORT: Filmmaker Jeremy Roberts recently visited southwest Kansas with LPCI staff to film exemplary land stewardship practices by ranchers. Read about the filming and ...
Pokorny Family Benefits Birds and Range on Wyoming Ranch
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Pokorny Family Benefits Birds and Range on Wyoming Ranch

Sage grouse like the habitat around the Pokorny Ranch, and the Pokornys like the conservation improvements SGI helped them make on their Wyoming ranch. "They were the first ...
Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust Protects Ranch on Colorado River
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Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust Protects Ranch on Colorado River

Big news today from our partner: Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust! And a big thank you to the Yust family for their generosity and gift to future ...
Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Conserves Working Ranch in Sage Grouse Core
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Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Conserves Working Ranch in Sage Grouse Core

Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust conserves working ranch in prime sage grouse country that's excellent habitat for mule deer, moose, pronghorn, and elk as ...
Sage Grouse Video on ‘Oregon Field Guide’ Nominated for Emmy Award
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Sage Grouse Video on ‘Oregon Field Guide’ Nominated for Emmy Award

Oregon Public Broadcasting ran an excellent video story about sage grouse on Oregon Field Guide, which is nominated for a Northwest Regional Emmy Award. The video, produced by ...
Bay Nature Article: “What People Talk About When They Talk About Sage Grouse”
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Bay Nature Article: “What People Talk About When They Talk About Sage Grouse”

Bay Nature Magazine featured an excellent story by Eric Simons on the Bi-State sage grouse, its habitat, and how it is reshaping conservation in the U.S. SGI is proud to be ...
Unprecedented Conservation Partnership Keeps Bi-State Sage Grouse Off Endangered Species List
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Unprecedented Conservation Partnership Keeps Bi-State Sage Grouse Off Endangered Species List

On the California-Nevada state line, a geographically distinct population of sage grouse once faced a precarious future. Today, that's changed. The decision by the USFWS that ...
Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust: Viewing Sage Grouse on Conserved Ranch Inspires Staff
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Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust: Viewing Sage Grouse on Conserved Ranch Inspires Staff

Seeing sage grouse inspires the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust ---a Sage Grouse Initiative partner. CCALT has protected more than 45,000 acres of sage grouse ...
Collaborative Approach to Sage Grouse Conservation Across the States
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Collaborative Approach to Sage Grouse Conservation Across the States

Capital Press article tells the story of proactive conservation underway for the sage grouse, with an emphasis on Oregon's conservation successes for the ...
New Science to Solutions Report: High-Resolution Maps Sharpen Focus On Sage Grouse Habitat
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New Science to Solutions Report: High-Resolution Maps Sharpen Focus On Sage Grouse Habitat

This new Science to Solutions report explains how a new technique called Earth Sense Technology (EST) is a cost-effective way to assesses range conditions throughout the West, ...
Lesser Prairie-Chickens Return to the Leks
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Lesser Prairie-Chickens Return to the Leks

FIELD REPORT: LPCI Field Staff wildlife biologist Amy Erickson reports from eastern New Mexico on the return of lesser prairie-chickens to their booming grounds, or ...
High-Res Maps Sharpen Focus on Sage Grouse Habitat
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High-Res Maps Sharpen Focus on Sage Grouse Habitat

Science to Solutions: High-Res Maps Sharpen Focus On Sage Grouse Habitat A new technique called Earth Sense Technology (EST) is ...
John Deere’s “The Furrow” Magazine Features SGI Ranchers in Montana
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John Deere’s “The Furrow” Magazine Features SGI Ranchers in Montana

This story on voluntary range improvements by Montana ranchers Patrick and Christy Lohof appears in the new Spring edition of John Deere’s The Furrow magazine. Read on to ...
Western Governors’ Association Releases Major Sage Grouse Conservation Report
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Western Governors’ Association Releases Major Sage Grouse Conservation Report

Western Governors' Association report: Sage grouse conservation is producing historic results at local, state, regional and federal levels, with more commitments ...
New SGI Science to Solutions Report: Sage Grouse Conservation Benefits Migratory Mule Deer
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New SGI Science to Solutions Report: Sage Grouse Conservation Benefits Migratory Mule Deer

Sage grouse habitat conservation protects critical habitat for mule deer, according to a study highlighted in the newest Sage Grouse Initiative Science to Solutions ...
Nevada Ranchers Take Proactive Measures in Bi-State as Listing Date Approaches: Reno Gazette Journal article
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Nevada Ranchers Take Proactive Measures in Bi-State as Listing Date Approaches: Reno Gazette Journal article

The Natural Resources Conservation Service-led Sage Grouse Initiative is part of a major proactive conservation effort, providing pinyon-juniper removal funding to help the ...
Pinyon-Juniper Forum Played Key Role for Future of Bi-State Sage Grouse
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Pinyon-Juniper Forum Played Key Role for Future of Bi-State Sage Grouse

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to announce its final decision in April on whether the Bi-State population of sage grouse will be listed as threatened under the ...
Sage Grouse Conservation Benefits Migratory Mule Deer
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Sage Grouse Conservation Benefits Migratory Mule Deer

This report shows how habitat conservation for sage grouse, considered an umbrella species, can also protect critical habitat for mule deer. Scientists found that sage grouse ...
Partners & Landowners Key To Conservation: Jason Weller, Chief Of Natural Resources Conservation Service Speaks At North American Wildlife Conference
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Partners & Landowners Key To Conservation: Jason Weller, Chief Of Natural Resources Conservation Service Speaks At North American Wildlife Conference

Jason Weller, chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, praised partnerships and voluntary efforts of private landowners that are critical to conservation successes ...
Sal Palazzolo, Idaho Fish & Game, Honored for Sage Grouse Initiative Work
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Sal Palazzolo, Idaho Fish & Game, Honored for Sage Grouse Initiative Work

Sal Palazzolo, Idaho Fish & Game, earns prestigious award for Sage Grouse Initiative from Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever at today's North American Wildlife & Natural ...
SGI “Outcomes in Conservation” Report Demonstrates Positive Impact of $300 Million Investment in West
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SGI “Outcomes in Conservation” Report Demonstrates Positive Impact of $300 Million Investment in West

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today issued a report showing that since 2010 USDA and its partners in the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) have worked with ...
Colorado Conservation Easement Proof that Local Projects Protect Sage Grouse
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Colorado Conservation Easement Proof that Local Projects Protect Sage Grouse

In Colorado, a new conservation easement northwest of Dove Creek is being touted as an example of a grassroots effort to protect the Gunnison sage ...
Idaho: SGI Range & Wildlife Conservationist Lara Fondow Enjoys Working With Birds & People
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Idaho: SGI Range & Wildlife Conservationist Lara Fondow Enjoys Working With Birds & People

Lara Fondow enjoys working with birds and people. That's why she currently works as a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) Range and ...
Pheasants Forever and USDA Renew Commitment to Conserve Habitat for Upland Birds
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Pheasants Forever and USDA Renew Commitment to Conserve Habitat for Upland Birds

SGI partner Pheasants Forever signed on with the USDA to continue important proactive conservation efforts with private landowners, including tools that restore and protect ...
Livestock Producers Step Up For Sage Grouse
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Livestock Producers Step Up For Sage Grouse

California rancher Mike Byrne shares why sage grouse conservation is working in his community in a new Western Livestock Journal that features the latest Sage Grouse ...
Just Add Water: Prairie Vegetation Responds to Rain
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Just Add Water: Prairie Vegetation Responds to Rain

FIELD REPORT: LPCI field staff wildlife biologist Jake Swafford reports from Portales, NM, on the effect of 2014’s rains on the drought-stricken ...
Study Shows That Fence Markers Reduce Sage Grouse Mortality in Wyoming
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Study Shows That Fence Markers Reduce Sage Grouse Mortality in Wyoming

SGI and our partners have marked or moved 590 miles of high-risk fence to reduce bird collisions so that sage grouse can thrive in the sagebrush sea. Read on to see results of ...
Bi-State Sage Grouse Forum Attracts Full House in Nevada
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Bi-State Sage Grouse Forum Attracts Full House in Nevada

Sage grouse experts representing many stakeholders and partners of the Sage Grouse Initiative converged in Minden, Nevada, yesterday for a high-profile forum aimed at solving ...
SGI Webinar: Intro to Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation in the U.S.
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SGI Webinar: Intro to Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation in the U.S.

Listen as Sage Grouse Initiative range conservationist Kelsey Molloy explains how partners work to conserve the Greater Sage-Grouse in the Western ...
Conservation Easements Protect a Special Place in Idaho
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Conservation Easements Protect a Special Place in Idaho

The area between the Pioneer Mountains and Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho is vitally important to sage-grouse and other wildlife. SGI has worked with 26 ...
Collaborative Partnerships Yield Big Gains in Montana’s Centennial Valley
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Collaborative Partnerships Yield Big Gains in Montana’s Centennial Valley

The collaborative Centennial Valley Collaborative Grazing Project in southwest Montana is a great example of how sage grouse conservation can be strategically met with ...
Webinar on Sage Grouse Conservation from 2010-2015
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Webinar on Sage Grouse Conservation from 2010-2015

This webinar from NRCS Chief Jason Weller shows maps and metrics detailing the remarkable conservation success story of the Sage Grouse Initiative to ...
USDA Sage-Grouse Conservation Efforts to Continue and Grow
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USDA Sage-Grouse Conservation Efforts to Continue and Grow

The NRCS Chief explains how the Sage Grouse Initiative has become a model for voluntary, incentive-based conservation at its best over the past 5 ...
Conservation Easements in Montana Improve Sage-Grouse Migration
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Conservation Easements in Montana Improve Sage-Grouse Migration

Recent conservation easements in Montana help maintain the sage-grouse's longest-known migration corridor between the U.S. and ...
Colorado partnership a win-win for livestock and sage grouse
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Colorado partnership a win-win for livestock and sage grouse

Cooperative projects like this water delivery design with Jay Yust help both ranchers and wildlife thrive on the Colorado ...
Keeping It Together: Large Landscape Conservation in the Upper Green River, Wyoming
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Keeping It Together: Large Landscape Conservation in the Upper Green River, Wyoming

A colossal voluntary effort is keeping the Intermountain West's sagebrush steppe intact, which protects one of the highest density populations of greater sage grouse ...
South Dakota rancher adds value to his operation and improves wildlife habitat
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South Dakota rancher adds value to his operation and improves wildlife habitat

South Dakota Rancher Ron Steineke makes water delivery and grazing improvements that benefit his cattle along with sage grouse and other ...
E&E News:  Major Juniper Removal in Idaho to Save Sage Grouse
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E&E News: Major Juniper Removal in Idaho to Save Sage Grouse

The Bureau of Land Management today announced plans to remove juniper trees across 1.5 million acres of southwest Idaho in hopes of beating back a major threat to the greater ...
Major Working Ranch Conservation Easement Protects Vital Sage Grouse Habitat in NW Colorado
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Major Working Ranch Conservation Easement Protects Vital Sage Grouse Habitat in NW Colorado

Sen. Michael Bennet and Gov. John Hickenlooper praise voluntary conservation that's keeping working ranches and the state's prime sage grouse habitat intact. The new ...
Five Dot Ranch Sustains Sage Grouse & Produces Natural Beef in California
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Five Dot Ranch Sustains Sage Grouse & Produces Natural Beef in California

The Swickard family takes pride in a pasture to plate operation. Their natural beef customers support a ranch dedicated to healthy cattle and plentiful wildlife, with a focus ...
Marking High-Risk Fences Saves Sage Grouse
News

Marking High-Risk Fences Saves Sage Grouse

Marking fences for visibility can dramatically reduce sage grouse collisions. A new mapping tool can help managers and landowners target those fences that pose the highest ...
Delaney 44 Ranch Helps Preserve Essential Sage Grouse Habitat in Montana
News

Delaney 44 Ranch Helps Preserve Essential Sage Grouse Habitat in Montana

Big Sky Journal's Winter Edition- 2014, features a Sage Grouse Initiative Rancher Success Story. Meet Deb and Mike Delaney. (a version of this article first appeared in Beef ...
International Sage-Grouse Forum Proceedings Available Free Online
News

International Sage-Grouse Forum Proceedings Available Free Online

If you missed the International Sage Grouse Forum last month, you can now listen to the proceedings free online, thanks to Utah State ...
Wildfire and Cheatgrass: New Science Helps Reduce Threats to Sage Grouse
News

Wildfire and Cheatgrass: New Science Helps Reduce Threats to Sage Grouse

Wildfires and the invasion of exotic annual grasses like cheatgrass can transform large expanses of sagebrush habitat, which is bad for sage grouse. This new strategy serves ...
Masini family Preserves Lush Oasis for Bi-State Sage Grouse in Nevada
News

Masini family Preserves Lush Oasis for Bi-State Sage Grouse in Nevada

Bi-State (Nevada/California) sage grouse thrive on Masini Ranch, participants in Sage Grouse Initiative conservation easements and ...
NRCS Chief Jason Weller Gives Keynote at International Sage Grouse Forum, Utah
News

NRCS Chief Jason Weller Gives Keynote at International Sage Grouse Forum, Utah

Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller praised ranchers, partners and the Sage Grouse Initiative at last week's International Sage Grouse Forum in Salt Lake ...
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet Tours NW Colorado Ranches:  Conserving Sage Grouse & Working Lands
News

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet Tours NW Colorado Ranches: Conserving Sage Grouse & Working Lands

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet recently joined the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) for a tour of three ranches in northwest Colorado. All conserve sage ...
Tanner Family Improves Habitat For Cattle and Sage Grouse in Prime Habitat Area: NW Utah’s Box Elder County
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Tanner Family Improves Habitat For Cattle and Sage Grouse in Prime Habitat Area: NW Utah’s Box Elder County

Sage grouse, ranching, research, and wildlife viewers are all part of the award-winning Tanner Ranch in NW Utah - a Sage Grouse Initiative success ...
National Award Honors Idaho’s Pioneers Alliance for Sage Grouse Conservation
News

National Award Honors Idaho’s Pioneers Alliance for Sage Grouse Conservation

Sage Grouse Initiative conservation easement success story: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the Pioneers Alliance of Carey, Idaho, received the ...
Fire Conference Opens With Release of Strategy for Protecting Sage Grouse from Wildfire & Cheatgrass
News

Fire Conference Opens With Release of Strategy for Protecting Sage Grouse from Wildfire & Cheatgrass

The Sage Grouse Initiative releases a powerful new strategy for reducing threats of wildfire and cheatgrass in sage grouse habitat in time for a major BLM conference in Idaho.
Conserving Sage Grouse Across International Boundaries: Canadian ranchers tour conservation projects in northern Montana
News

Conserving Sage Grouse Across International Boundaries: Canadian ranchers tour conservation projects in northern Montana

Groups from both sides of the border met in Montana with a goal of sharing ideas to conserve the longest sage grouse migration ...
Sage Grouse Initiative Quarterly Report: Innovative Partnerships Expand On-the-Ground Delivery of Conservation
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Sage Grouse Initiative Quarterly Report: Innovative Partnerships Expand On-the-Ground Delivery of Conservation

Read the latest Sage Grouse Initiative quarterly report for partnership accomplishments via field staff, science, ...
Private Lands Vital to Conserving Wet Areas for Sage Grouse Summer Habitat
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Private Lands Vital to Conserving Wet Areas for Sage Grouse Summer Habitat

An impressive 85% of leks (sage grouse breeding areas) cluster within six miles of wet summer habitats. Successful sage grouse conservation will hinge on cooperative ...
Cool Green Science: Protecting Sage Grouse Habitat: Does It Benefit Mule Deer Populations?
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Cool Green Science: Protecting Sage Grouse Habitat: Does It Benefit Mule Deer Populations?

Read today's Cool Green Science Blog. Holly Copeland (The Nature Conservancy) shares findings that sage grouse core habitat in Wyoming overlaps with mule deer habitat (winter ...
“CEAP” Insight: Targeted Conifer Removal: A Proactive Solution to Conserving Sage Grouse
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“CEAP” Insight: Targeted Conifer Removal: A Proactive Solution to Conserving Sage Grouse

The Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) recently announced the release of its newest Conservation Insight: “Targeted Conifer Removal: A Proactive Solution to ...
California: National Public Lands Day Volunteers Apply Tangible Sage Grouse Conservation Actions in the Bodie Hills
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California: National Public Lands Day Volunteers Apply Tangible Sage Grouse Conservation Actions in the Bodie Hills

Sage grouse and historic buildings both benefit from dual volunteer activities- report on National Public Lands Day from SGI Partner Bodie Hills Conservation ...
Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Conserves Ranch for Agriculture & Sage Grouse
News

Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Conserves Ranch for Agriculture & Sage Grouse

Sage Grouse Initiative partner Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust just completed another significant conservation easement, working with landowner Maggie Miller, and protecting ...
Sage Grouse Conservation Also Helps Mule Deer Migration Routes, Study Finds
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Sage Grouse Conservation Also Helps Mule Deer Migration Routes, Study Finds

New research in Wyoming’s Upper Green River Basin shows that winter range, stopover areas and migration corridors used by mule deer overlap significantly with core sage ...
Interior Secretary Jewell Weathers Rain & Winds to See Landscape-Level Conservation Project for Sage Grouse in Oregon
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Interior Secretary Jewell Weathers Rain & Winds to See Landscape-Level Conservation Project for Sage Grouse in Oregon

U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell weathers rain and wind to see landscape-level restoration for sage grouse near Lakeview, Oregon --featuring Sage Grouse Initiative and ...
Dawn Nottingham: Colorado rancher improves sage grouse habitat with juniper control, wildlife-friendly fencing near Dinosaur National Monument
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Dawn Nottingham: Colorado rancher improves sage grouse habitat with juniper control, wildlife-friendly fencing near Dinosaur National Monument

"We've had a good little crop of sage chickens (grouse) for years and years," says Nottingham, a third-generation rancher. "No one realized we had them. I figured it might not ...
Private Lands Vital to Conserving Wet Areas for Sage Grouse Summer Habitat
News

Private Lands Vital to Conserving Wet Areas for Sage Grouse Summer Habitat

New sage grouse study reveals a strong link between wet sites (essential summer habitat for sage grouse to raise their broods) and sage grouse leks, and in turn, private ...
New publication helps land managers strategically reduce wildfire and invasive species threats in sagebrush ecosystem
News

New publication helps land managers strategically reduce wildfire and invasive species threats in sagebrush ecosystem

Wildfire and invasive species pose great challenges to the future of sage grouse and the sagebrush ecosystems of the West. Today, managers have new strategies to reduce the ...
Utah NRCS Provides 250,000 Fence Markers This Year to Prevent Sage Grouse Collisions: Volunteers Make it Happen
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Utah NRCS Provides 250,000 Fence Markers This Year to Prevent Sage Grouse Collisions: Volunteers Make it Happen

NRCS Utah is making available 250,000 fence markers this year—enough to mark approximately 128 miles of fencing with a single row of markers. These dedicated volunteers ...
Nevada “Bootstraps”  Young Adult Crew Restores Sage Grouse Habitat
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Nevada “Bootstraps” Young Adult Crew Restores Sage Grouse Habitat

Read this inspiring story about the award-winning Bootstraps program - reported in the Reno Gazette Journal last month, with additional new photos (by Genevieve Mason) ...
Field & Stream Video of Ken Miracle, Sage Grouse “Hero of Conservation”
News

Field & Stream Video of Ken Miracle, Sage Grouse “Hero of Conservation”

See the video. Explore Ken Miracle's photographs. Meet the Sage Grouse Hero of Conservation for Field & ...
Central Idaho Rancher Tom Page: Big Creek Ranch Applies “All Lands Management” to Benefit Sage Grouse, other Wildlife
News

Central Idaho Rancher Tom Page: Big Creek Ranch Applies “All Lands Management” to Benefit Sage Grouse, other Wildlife

"I love working with SGI -- the flexibility is the really great thing," Tom Page ...
Fence Markers to Prevent Sage Grouse Collisions: Frequently Asked Questions
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Fence Markers to Prevent Sage Grouse Collisions: Frequently Asked Questions

Find out all you need to know about how to mark fences to prevent sage grouse collisions with this Frequently Asked Questions guide from the Sage Grouse ...
Hunting Dog Group Helps Montana Sage Grouse: Unique “Double-Marking” Project to Prevent Fence Collisions
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Hunting Dog Group Helps Montana Sage Grouse: Unique “Double-Marking” Project to Prevent Fence Collisions

The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association spent a hot August day giving back to the birds they care for. A dozen volunteers marked five miles of fence to prevent ...
Eagle Scout Project Tackles Sage Grouse Fence Marking
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Eagle Scout Project Tackles Sage Grouse Fence Marking

Cache Valley Boy Scout Kaden Hart selected marking 5-miles of fence in Rich County, Utah, as his Eagle Scout Project. He worked with Taylor Payne, Sage Grouse Initiative ...
Private Lands Harbor Scarce Wetlands Ideal for Sage Grouse: View Science Webinar
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Private Lands Harbor Scarce Wetlands Ideal for Sage Grouse: View Science Webinar

The Sage Grouse Initiative YouTube Channel hosts science Webinars and others of interest. Please see our newest addition: Rangewide Mapping of Scarce Wetland Resources, ...
Sage Grouse Initiative Volunteer Among Finalists for Heroes of Conservation Award
News

Sage Grouse Initiative Volunteer Among Finalists for Heroes of Conservation Award

Sage Grouse volunteer Ken Miracle, Boise, Idaho, is one of the six finalists selected for the 2014 Heroes of Conservation Awards hosted by Field & ...
Beef Magazine: Sage Grouse, Cattle Thrive on Rest-Rotation
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Beef Magazine: Sage Grouse, Cattle Thrive on Rest-Rotation

The August 5th edition of Beef Magazine online features an article about the Sage Grouse Initiative and the inspiring stewardship of the Delaneys, a multi-generational ranch ...
Washington Landowner & Agencies Secure Major Grants To Protect And Restore A Sage Grouse Oasis In Douglas County
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Washington Landowner & Agencies Secure Major Grants To Protect And Restore A Sage Grouse Oasis In Douglas County

A forward-looking landowner working with several partners has $300,000 in grants to enhance habitat on a precious parcel for sage grouse in Douglas County, ...
North Dakota Outdoors: Restoring Sage Grouse Habitat
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North Dakota Outdoors: Restoring Sage Grouse Habitat

North Dakota Outdoors featured one of the Sage Grouse Initiative rancher success stories in its July, 2014 issue, authored by Steve Stuebner. Rancher Rob Brooks and partners ...
Field & Stream Video Released: Sage Grouse Initiative Hero for a Day
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Field & Stream Video Released: Sage Grouse Initiative Hero for a Day

Field & Stream today released its Hero for a Day video featuring Montana volunteers for the Sage Grouse Initiative marking fences, removing fences, and planting sagebrush, as ...
Sage Grouse Champions: Bi-State Local Area Working Group
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Sage Grouse Champions: Bi-State Local Area Working Group

"The Bi-State Local Area Working Group has provided the foundation upon which effective long-term sage grouse conservation can build," said Tony Wasley, director of the Nevada ...
BLM Fire Program to Focus on Sage Grouse Conservation
News

BLM Fire Program to Focus on Sage Grouse Conservation

Fire is one of the major threats to the future of sage grouse habitat, especially in the great basin. The sage grouse initiative works with the BLM and other agencies closely ...
USDA Announces Landmark Commitment to Improve Bi-State Sage Grouse Habitat: Nevada-California Ranchers to Benefit
News

USDA Announces Landmark Commitment to Improve Bi-State Sage Grouse Habitat: Nevada-California Ranchers to Benefit

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced USDA’s landmark agreement to accelerate and focus conservation efforts benefitting ranchers and the Bi-State ...
Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
News

Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy

This recent study by The Nature Conservancy, University of Wyoming and the Sage Grouse Initiative finds that Wyoming’s strategy, combined with targeted conservation ...
Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
News

Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy

Read the Press Release here. Download the PDF of the Science to Solutions report “Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse ...
Oregon Rancher Gary Bedortha Removes Juniper Trees to Create a Safe Haven for Sage Grouse
News

Oregon Rancher Gary Bedortha Removes Juniper Trees to Create a Safe Haven for Sage Grouse

Rancher Gary Bedortha shares his story of juniper removal on 12,000 acres of his private ranchland near Paulina to benefit sage grouse and the sagebrush-steppe ...
Washington: Big-scale Conservation Starts at Rancher Allen Miller’s Kitchen Table
News

Washington: Big-scale Conservation Starts at Rancher Allen Miller’s Kitchen Table

This article appears in the June/July 2014 issue of Working Ranch ...
Montana Bug Study Investigates  Benefits of Prescribed Grazing for Sage Grouse Chicks
News

Montana Bug Study Investigates Benefits of Prescribed Grazing for Sage Grouse Chicks

Hayes Goosey is leading a unique four-year study near Roundup, Montana, to investigate a key part of sage grouse diet in spring and summer, particularly for the growing ...
Ranchers Lead the Way With USFWS Agreement in Oregon
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Ranchers Lead the Way With USFWS Agreement in Oregon

Story and photos about the Harney County CCAA on USFWS Pacific Region's Tumblr Page: by Paul Henson, Oregon's state supervisor for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife ...
Historic Agreement Signed Today in Eastern Oregon to Benefit Sage Grouse & Ranchers
News

Historic Agreement Signed Today in Eastern Oregon to Benefit Sage Grouse & Ranchers

The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative joins the celebration today in the signing of a major conservation agreement with landowners in Harney County, called a Candidate ...
Field & Stream Magazine Films “Hero for a Day”:  Sage Grouse Volunteers Lend a Hand on Bequette Ranch
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Field & Stream Magazine Films “Hero for a Day”: Sage Grouse Volunteers Lend a Hand on Bequette Ranch

Dave Bequette couldn’t be happier with the conservation results on his family ranch south of Laurel, after the May 11th “Hero for a Day” volunteer project that will ...
Idaho’s Pioneer Alliance & Pheasants Forever Juniper Project Benefit Sage Grouse
News

Idaho’s Pioneer Alliance & Pheasants Forever Juniper Project Benefit Sage Grouse

In a continuing series of articles, Capital Press has published two more articles on the Sage Grouse Initiative from last week's Twin Falls, Idaho Meeting, featured here with ...
Rancher Partnerships Are Key to Sage Grouse Initiative:  Twin Falls Workshop Report
News

Rancher Partnerships Are Key to Sage Grouse Initiative: Twin Falls Workshop Report

Last week's Sage Grouse Initiative Workshop for staff and partners in Twin Falls, Idaho, gave ranchers an opportunity to explain why they are partnering up with the Sage ...
New Milestones for Sage Grouse Initiative from Partnership With Intermountain West Joint Venture
News

New Milestones for Sage Grouse Initiative from Partnership With Intermountain West Joint Venture

Across 11 western states in sage grouse strongholds, 24 biologists and range conservationists funded to carry out the Sage Grouse Initiative are making a tangible difference.
Sage Grouse Stable in SE Montana: FWP Four-Year Study Results Are In
News

Sage Grouse Stable in SE Montana: FWP Four-Year Study Results Are In

In Southeast Montana, however, the birds have persisted at sustainable levels and the ability to sustain seems to point to the fact that many traditional landowners have ...
Conifer Removal Restores Sage Grouse Habitat
News

Conifer Removal Restores Sage Grouse Habitat

Hundreds of thousands of acres of intact sagebrush lands--and the grouse that depend upon them--are threatened by invading conifers. SGI helps remove the threat to prevent ...
North Dakota Sage Grouse Initiative Partnership: Planting Wyoming Big Sage on Brooks Ranch Enhances Sage Grouse Habitat
News

North Dakota Sage Grouse Initiative Partnership: Planting Wyoming Big Sage on Brooks Ranch Enhances Sage Grouse Habitat

North Dakota cattle rancher Rob Brooks is supportive and participating in restoring sagebrush to his land to give sage grouse a chance here at the fringe of his range. The ...
Targeting Early Phase Conifer Removal is Key to Restoring Sage Grouse Habitat
News

Targeting Early Phase Conifer Removal is Key to Restoring Sage Grouse Habitat

Removing junipers and other conifers that are early invaders of sagebrush-steppe is less costly, and much more likely to be effective, than a delay-and-repair approach that ...
Western Governors’ Association Releases Major Sage Grouse Report Highlighting State & Local Efforts to Conserve the Species
News

Western Governors’ Association Releases Major Sage Grouse Report Highlighting State & Local Efforts to Conserve the Species

The Sage Grouse Initiative commends the impressive collaboration that's underway at federal, state and local levels to proactively address the threats to sage grouse and ...
Voluntary conservation effort promotes improved lesser prairie-chicken habitat:  Partnership with Pheasants Forever will provide $5 million for effort
News

Voluntary conservation effort promotes improved lesser prairie-chicken habitat: Partnership with Pheasants Forever will provide $5 million for effort

Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie, announced a renewed and expanded partnership to provide expert habitat advice to farmers and ...
Science to Solution Series:  Marking High-Risk Fences Saves Sage Grouse
News

Science to Solution Series: Marking High-Risk Fences Saves Sage Grouse

The Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) regularly joins with its partners to fund and support science that is designed to help guide conservation solutions on the ground. Today, we ...
Ranchers Participate in Sage Grouse Initiative to Remove Juniper & Restore Range: Idaho Statesman
News

Ranchers Participate in Sage Grouse Initiative to Remove Juniper & Restore Range: Idaho Statesman

"But when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decides in 2015 whether to list the grouse as a threatened creature under the Endangered Species Act, it will be looking at the ...
2014 Sage Grouse Lek Viewing Tours & Places to See the Wondrous Dance
News

2014 Sage Grouse Lek Viewing Tours & Places to See the Wondrous Dance

March, April and early May mark the sage grouse dancing season, when males assemble at dawn every day on "leks," (open natural dance floors in the sage grouse) and put on ...
IWJV News: SGI Partner Positions Offer a New Model for Field Staffing to Help Ranchers Conserve Sage Grouse
News

IWJV News: SGI Partner Positions Offer a New Model for Field Staffing to Help Ranchers Conserve Sage Grouse

When Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) range conservationist Mandi Hirsch heads out into the sagebrush from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Lander, ...
Utah Sage Grouse Summit Launches: Radio Interview With Dr Terry Messmer
News

Utah Sage Grouse Summit Launches: Radio Interview With Dr Terry Messmer

Listen to this in-depth interview with Dr Terry Messmer on Utah Public Radio to learn about sage grouse natural history, conservation and policy with an emphasis on Utah ...
Bi-State Sage Grouse News: Three Federal Agencies, Public Come Together  on Fence Marker Project to Prevent Sage Grouse Mortalities
News

Bi-State Sage Grouse News: Three Federal Agencies, Public Come Together on Fence Marker Project to Prevent Sage Grouse Mortalities

The Bureau of Land Management’s Bishop Field Office, the U.S. Forest Service’s Bridgeport District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the U.S. Department of ...
2014 Farm Bill Signed Into Law:  Sodsaver Provision a Win for Sage Grouse & Ranching
News

2014 Farm Bill Signed Into Law: Sodsaver Provision a Win for Sage Grouse & Ranching

Eastern Montana rancher Bill Milton is pleased to see a new sodsaver provision in the Farm Bill of 2014, signed by the President today. He runs a grass-fed cattle operation ...
Proactive Sage Grouse Conservation: A Closer Look at U.S. Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell’s Visit to the Bord Gulch Ranch
News

Proactive Sage Grouse Conservation: A Closer Look at U.S. Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell’s Visit to the Bord Gulch Ranch

U.S. Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell and other top officials saw the Sage Grouse Initiative partnership in action at the Bord Gulch Ranch, NW ...
Sports Afield: Mule Deer Benefit from Sage Grouse Initiative
News

Sports Afield: Mule Deer Benefit from Sage Grouse Initiative

The next time you hunt a big mule deer buck in Wyoming, you might want to thank a sage grouse. That’s because a major initiative to conserve sage grouse populations in the ...
Technical Fact Sheet: Mapping Potential Ecosystem Resilience and Resistance for Sage Grouse
News

Technical Fact Sheet: Mapping Potential Ecosystem Resilience and Resistance for Sage Grouse

Science Technical Fact Sheet: Mapping Potential Ecosystem Resilience and Resistance across Sage-Grouse Range using Soil Temperature and Moisture Regimes A recent ...
Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Completes Conservation Easement Near Laramie That Conserves Sage Grouse  and Other Fragile Wildlife
News

Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Completes Conservation Easement Near Laramie That Conserves Sage Grouse and Other Fragile Wildlife

More than 8,700 acres of productive ranchland in Albany County have been preserved as a result of a recent conservation easement project completed by the Wyoming Stock Growers ...
Interior Secretary Jewell  & Gov. Hickenlooper Tour Sage Grouse Conservation Efforts Underway at Colorado Ranch
News

Interior Secretary Jewell & Gov. Hickenlooper Tour Sage Grouse Conservation Efforts Underway at Colorado Ranch

CRAIG, CO – Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper today visited northwestern Colorado as part of the Secretary’s commitment to ...
The Sagebrush Community: New Video added on Oregon Cowboy Life
News

The Sagebrush Community: New Video added on Oregon Cowboy Life

For a 10-minute close-up view of the lives of southeastern Oregon cowboys, take a look at this recent Oregon Public Broadcasting video. While sage grouse are not featured ...
BLM-Idaho Nominates Burley Landscape Sage Grouse Habitat Restoration Project
News

BLM-Idaho Nominates Burley Landscape Sage Grouse Habitat Restoration Project

Protecting the habitat of the sage-grouse, an iconic Western land-dwelling bird, is becoming an increasing priority, making the work of groups such as the Burley Landscape ...
Life on the Range:  Idaho SGI Rancher Jared Bracket is Steward of Cattle & Sage Grouse
News

Life on the Range: Idaho SGI Rancher Jared Bracket is Steward of Cattle & Sage Grouse

"This is as good as it gets. We're quite proud of it. Unless you have something to hide, there's nothing to be scared of. Because in the end, the resource will show what's ...
Las Vegas Sun: Rancher Duane Coombs Writes About Role of Private Lands in Sage Grouse Conservation
News

Las Vegas Sun: Rancher Duane Coombs Writes About Role of Private Lands in Sage Grouse Conservation

The fate of the cow and the sage grouse in the West are inescapably linked. The habitat needs of the grouse are the same as those of the cow. If we want to save the birds, the ...
Sage Grouse Initiative 2013 Report: “Tracking Success”
News

Sage Grouse Initiative 2013 Report: “Tracking Success”

Download the 2013 landmark report: Sage Grouse Initiative Tracking ...
Montana Success in Two Important Areas: Sage Grouse Habitat and Soil Health
News

Montana Success in Two Important Areas: Sage Grouse Habitat and Soil Health

" To date, we have a half million acres of ranches in conservation plans that are protecting sage-grouse habitat and maintaining and improving grazing systems. If we don’t ...
“Bird in a Bind” Shows Sage Grouse Initiative  Success in the Field
News

“Bird in a Bind” Shows Sage Grouse Initiative Success in the Field

Reporter Jimmy Tobias headed out to remote eastern Montana near Roundup to spend time with the Lehfeldt ranch family, enrolled in Sage Grouse Initiative programs, and to track ...
Sage Grouse and Wetland Habitat Preserved on Colorado’s Coyte Ranch
News

Sage Grouse and Wetland Habitat Preserved on Colorado’s Coyte Ranch

Sage grouse and wetland habitats are conserved together along with the future of a working ranch in Northwest Colorado. The closing of the Coyte Ranch conservation easement ...
Ray Owens: Innovative Ranch Manager Teams Up With Sage Grouse Initiative in NW Colorado
News

Ray Owens: Innovative Ranch Manager Teams Up With Sage Grouse Initiative in NW Colorado

Ray Owens is a ranch manager of the Bord Gulch Ranch, north of Craig, Colorado, in Moffat County. He may also be one of the most vigilant observers of sagebrush land, and an ...
Montana Launches First “Fence-marking Partnership Project” in Ekalaka
News

Montana Launches First “Fence-marking Partnership Project” in Ekalaka

The state’s first fence-marking partnership project to prevent sage grouse collisions started not in Ekalaka, but another hour and a half drive from there into a vast sea of ...
Field and Stream Magazine Awards Sage Grouse Initiative Volunteer as “Hero of Conservation”
News

Field and Stream Magazine Awards Sage Grouse Initiative Volunteer as “Hero of Conservation”

The December/January issue of Field and Stream magazine recognizes Ken Miracle of Boise, Idaho as one of it “Heroes of Conservation" for his tireless volunteering on behalf ...
Science Informs Sage Grouse Initiative: TNC Interview with Dave Naugle
News

Science Informs Sage Grouse Initiative: TNC Interview with Dave Naugle

From: The Nature Conservancy Wyoming Annual Report 2013 (p.
SGI November E-News Roundup
News

SGI November E-News Roundup

November may be a slower time for sage grouse activity as the birds migrate and settle in to their wintering sagebrush favorite habitats, but it's a busy month for the Sage ...
Nature Conservancy Magazine Showcases the Matador Ranch & its Role in Sage Grouse Conservation
News

Nature Conservancy Magazine Showcases the Matador Ranch & its Role in Sage Grouse Conservation

Matador Ranch covers 60,000 acres, but the grass bank program based there has improved another 220,000 acres of wildlife habitat on neighboring ...
Eastern Sierra Land Trust Works to Conserve Sage Grouse Habitat and Rural Heritage
News

Eastern Sierra Land Trust Works to Conserve Sage Grouse Habitat and Rural Heritage

"It is important to preserve and maintain the history of the area and the legacy of the cattle. The only way to protect the land is to not put houses on it." - Mark Lacey, ...
Montana Outdoors: Last Stand of the Sage-Grouse
News

Montana Outdoors: Last Stand of the Sage-Grouse

Where Can Sage-Grouse Live? Why good grazing practices and more state and federal land-use regulations are essential for keeping these beleaguered birds off the endangered ...
Championing the Sage Grouse Initiative: Pheasants Forever National Board Tours Idaho Ranch
News

Championing the Sage Grouse Initiative: Pheasants Forever National Board Tours Idaho Ranch

In late September, the PF national board members had their first chance to tour a ranch enrolled in the Initiative, to experience the thrill of sage grouse flushing from the ...
Sage Grouse Initiative Field Team Chalks up a Million Acres Worth of Success
News

Sage Grouse Initiative Field Team Chalks up a Million Acres Worth of Success

Conservation enhancements directly linked to the SGI field staff working one-on-one with landowners have crossed the million acre ...
Meet me at the Border: Sage Grouse Initiative Projects Converge on Utah-Colorado Boundary
News

Meet me at the Border: Sage Grouse Initiative Projects Converge on Utah-Colorado Boundary

Ranchers Scott and Alan Chew know what it’s like to work across borders. The Utah and Colorado boundary literally crosses through their property that’s part of vast ...
Montana Op-Ed Praises Cooperative Approach to Reverse Sage Grouse Declines
News

Montana Op-Ed Praises Cooperative Approach to Reverse Sage Grouse Declines

"At a regional scale, the Sage Grouse Initiative, a partnership of ranchers, agencies, nonprofit groups and business interests was launched in 2010 by the Natural Resources ...
Ultimate Upland: Quest for the Sage Grouse
News

Ultimate Upland: Quest for the Sage Grouse

A Montana upland bird hunting story connects the joy of the field experience with the conservation needed to keep sage grouse on the landscape for future ...
Wildlife Management Institute: Early Removal of Invasive Conifers Essential to Habitat Restoration for Sage Grouse
News

Wildlife Management Institute: Early Removal of Invasive Conifers Essential to Habitat Restoration for Sage Grouse

Research led by The Nature Conservancy and released in mid-September validates efforts to limit the encroachment of juniper and other conifers in sagebrush habitats in order ...
Agri-Pulse: Sage Grouse Offers Win-Win Conservation Partnership
News

Agri-Pulse: Sage Grouse Offers Win-Win Conservation Partnership

Given the uncertain situation and virtually guaranteed reduced funding in the current farm bill debate, the conservation community needs win-win partnerships that use minimal ...
Sports Afield: Conserving Western Hunting Grounds, One Sage Grouse at a Time
News

Sports Afield: Conserving Western Hunting Grounds, One Sage Grouse at a Time

..a project called the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) is going full-bore to conserve the sage grouse and its habitat without imposing onerous regulations on freedom-loving ...
Joe Painter: South Dakota Rancher Voluntarily Improves Prime Sage Grouse Habitat
News

Joe Painter: South Dakota Rancher Voluntarily Improves Prime Sage Grouse Habitat

Joe Painter credits his grandfather for his appreciation of the sage grouse, sharptails, pheasants, ducks, wild turkeys and Hungarian partridge that share his windswept cattle ...
Lehfeldts Change Grazing Practices to Benefit Sheep, Cattle and Sage Grouse
News

Lehfeldts Change Grazing Practices to Benefit Sheep, Cattle and Sage Grouse

“Establishing these pastures and rotational grazing has improved our bottom line. We’ve had more grass, so our livestock does better. We’re selling a higher weight ...
Montana Eagle Scout Leads Effort to Mark Fences for Sage Grouse
News

Montana Eagle Scout Leads Effort to Mark Fences for Sage Grouse

Matt Light, a Boy Scout from Billings, Montana, completed an ambitious project last spring for his Eagle Scout Service Project, one that he hopes will make a difference for ...
Oregon Study Confirms that Cutting Conifers Can Help Sage Grouse (High Country News)
News

Oregon Study Confirms that Cutting Conifers Can Help Sage Grouse (High Country News)

“This gives us confidence going forward that if we get onto this before a particular sagebrush ecosystem becomes a forest, there’s a high likelihood of keeping birds on ...
The Sage Grouse Initiative: Science to Solutions (TNC Blog)
News

The Sage Grouse Initiative: Science to Solutions (TNC Blog)

“We are pushing the accelerator as fast as we can to achieve lasting conservation results,” says Naugle. “This is an ambitious conservation science effort. But it’s ...
Sage Grouse Initiative Field Staff Earn Top Awards From Pheasants Forever
News

Sage Grouse Initiative Field Staff Earn Top Awards From Pheasants Forever

Sage Grouse Initiative field staff Gillian Brooks and Scott Scroggie earned prestigious awards from Pheasants Forever at a recent national staff meeting in Estes Park, ...
Saving Sage Grouse from the Trees: New Study Shows Benefits of Targeted Tree Removal to Declining Birds
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Saving Sage Grouse from the Trees: New Study Shows Benefits of Targeted Tree Removal to Declining Birds

Proactive conservation that removes encroaching trees helps maintain sage grouse populations within their remaining strongholds, according to a study published today in the ...
Farm Bill is Critical to Farmers, Ranchers, & Birds in Colorado
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Farm Bill is Critical to Farmers, Ranchers, & Birds in Colorado

The Sage Grouse Initiative is featured in this Denver Post ...
Sage Grouse Initiative on TV
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Sage Grouse Initiative on TV

“Out on the Land,” a program of RFD TV with host Dr. Larry Butler, traveled to the Paint Rock Angus Ranch in Montana to visit with owner/operator Dennis Mercer and to ...
NPR Morning Edition Features Sage Grouse Initiative
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NPR Morning Edition Features Sage Grouse Initiative

National Public Radio's Morning Edition featured the Sage Grouse Initiative and ranchers in Montana's Centennial Valley- aired July 10, 2013. Listen ...
“Beltway Beef” Features Sage Grouse Initiative & Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
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“Beltway Beef” Features Sage Grouse Initiative & Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust

Northwest Colorado is home to the best remaining ranchlands and habitat for sage grouse in the state. Today, an unprecedented number of ranchers are stepping up to put ...
Removing Junipers Benefits Wildlife and Range in Owyhee County
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Removing Junipers Benefits Wildlife and Range in Owyhee County

When Owyhee County rancher Chris Black walked into the Mountain Home Service Center last November, he seemed to have read my mind. He’d been high on my list to contact about ...
Ground-breaking Watershed-scale Grazing Project, Utah
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Ground-breaking Watershed-scale Grazing Project, Utah

In the far northeast corner of Utah dwell more sage grouse than in any other part of the state. Here, a ground-breaking grazing management plan is ...
Dennis Sun, Casper, Wyoming: Ranching with Hundreds of Sage Grouse
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Dennis Sun, Casper, Wyoming: Ranching with Hundreds of Sage Grouse

Dennis Sun, owner of the Sun Ranch west of Casper, Wyo., and publisher/owner of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, knows sage grouse better than most people. After all, he has ...
SGI Juniper Removal Adds to Biofuel Industry, California
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SGI Juniper Removal Adds to Biofuel Industry, California

Twenty-one California ranchers in Lassen and Modoc Counties have signed up for SGI programs to remove juniper that has encroached on sage grouse habitat and reduced forage for ...
Ranchers Pass on a Legacy in Idaho’s Pioneer Mountains
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Ranchers Pass on a Legacy in Idaho’s Pioneer Mountains

“You don’t own the ranch. The ranch owns you," says John Peavey, a third generation rancher and former state senator. He joins other voices of Idaho ranchers taking ...
State of the Birds Features Sage Grouse Initiative
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State of the Birds Features Sage Grouse Initiative

The Sage Grouse Initiative is featured on page 16-17 of State of the Birds – Birds on Private Lands and our photographs appear ...
Montana FWP Video Features Sage Grouse Initiative
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Montana FWP Video Features Sage Grouse Initiative

Take a look at this short action-packed video, featuring Lorelle Berkeley, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologist working with SGI to research how well ...
Working Lands for Wildlife: Landowners Improve Habitat for At-Risk Species
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Working Lands for Wildlife: Landowners Improve Habitat for At-Risk Species

Through voluntary conservation, American farmers, ranchers and forestland owners are restoring and protecting habitat for seven at-risk wildlife ...
Unprecedented Conservation Partnership: Sage Grouse Initiative Workshop Attracts Top Leadership to Lakeview, Oregon
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Unprecedented Conservation Partnership: Sage Grouse Initiative Workshop Attracts Top Leadership to Lakeview, Oregon

Lakeview, Ore. (June 5, 2013) — In the immense Warner Mountains of southeast Oregon, an equally expansive public-private partnership to restore sage grouse habitat attracted ...
The Amazing Sage Grouse Strut: Families Flock to Community Bird Day in Pablo
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The Amazing Sage Grouse Strut: Families Flock to Community Bird Day in Pablo

“Those look like eggs,” said Jacelyn Charlo, her eyes wide and curious as she watched a video of a strutting male sage grouse inflating his air ...
New Sage Grouse Initiative Webinar: Write a Great Success Story
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New Sage Grouse Initiative Webinar: Write a Great Success Story

Sage Grouse Initiative - May 14, ...
Undeveloped Sagebrush Habitat Important for Maintaining Sage Grouse
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Undeveloped Sagebrush Habitat Important for Maintaining Sage Grouse

BOISE, Idaho— Among the diverse array of western habitats available to them, greater sage-grouse require sagebrush-dominated landscapes with extremely minimal levels of ...
Sage Grouse, Sagebrush and Science
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Sage Grouse, Sagebrush and Science

They appear like ghosts before light: small groups of plump birds standing amongst the sagebrush. They puff up, tail feathers erect, chest extended. Large air sacs are ...
SGI Releases New Video: Saving Sage Grouse: The Wyoming Example
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SGI Releases New Video: Saving Sage Grouse: The Wyoming Example

A new Sage Grouse Initiative video released this week showcases the Wyoming model for saving sage grouse, a strategy that’s spreading across the other 10 western states ...
Montana Association Of Conservation Districts funds four more projects through the Sage-Grouse Conservation Grant program
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Montana Association Of Conservation Districts funds four more projects through the Sage-Grouse Conservation Grant program

Thanks to a generous grant from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Montana Association of Conservation Districts was able to award four more grants to help conserve sage ...
Sage Grouse Recovery in Washington Takes Giant Stride Forward
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Sage Grouse Recovery in Washington Takes Giant Stride Forward

The Sage Grouse Initiative, launched by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in 2010, applies Farm Bill dollars strategically where the funding will make the ...
Sage Grouse Recovery in Washington Takes Giant Step Forward
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Sage Grouse Recovery in Washington Takes Giant Step Forward

“We’re on the gain here for sage grouse,” says rancher Kay D. Leander, who lives in Douglas County near Leahy Junction, about 30 miles west of Grand Coulee Dam, ...
Don and Sheila Phillips – a Nevada sage grouse success story
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Don and Sheila Phillips – a Nevada sage grouse success story

Ely, Nevada – Cattle ranchers Don and Sheila Phillips want to help out sage grouse on their ranch, but Don wasn’t convinced those new white vinyl markers he’d agreed to ...
Montana Conservation Corps: Walking the Range for Seeds
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Montana Conservation Corps: Walking the Range for Seeds

BOZEMAN – Two teen leaders from California and Michigan along with six volunteers from Bozeman pitched in to collect plant species important to sage ...
SGI Partnership Works to Conserve International Sage Grouse Migration Corridor
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SGI Partnership Works to Conserve International Sage Grouse Migration Corridor

Canada's only viable population of sage grouse depends on habitats in two countries. The revelation that the birds migrate 70 to 120 miles south each winter came from USDA ...
Two Win-Win Initiatives With Common Recovery Goals, Lesser Prairie-Chicken and Greater Sage-Grouse
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Two Win-Win Initiatives With Common Recovery Goals, Lesser Prairie-Chicken and Greater Sage-Grouse

Have you ever been in the southern Great Plains or the high sagebrush steppe on a crisp April morning and heard mysterious cackling or bubbling sounds carried on the ...
North Park Ranch Preserves Wildlife & Ranching Heritage
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North Park Ranch Preserves Wildlife & Ranching Heritage

n early 2012, the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) teamed up with partners to protect 2,240 acres of the historic Coyte Ranch in North Park, the largest ...