Success Stories

We measure success in many ways. From pastures to biomes and from acres conserved to innovative partnerships, success for WLFW is about more than just miles of fence or trees removed (though we count those too!).

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
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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
Publication Alert

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
News

“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
News

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
News

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
News

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
News

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
Ask an Expert

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
News

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
News

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
News

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
News

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
News

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
News

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

View Full Size The Cheatgrass Challenge is a proactive effort to tackle annual invasive grasses and other restoration challenges across …
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

View Full Size The Keane Ranch is now protected from development in perpetuity thanks to a conservation easement supported, in …
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
Ask an Expert

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
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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
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 …