sage grouse

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.

Meet the American Burying Beetle
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Meet the American Burying Beetle

Get to know this unique species and how long-term conservation efforts in Nebraska are giving its population a ...
Podcast: Ranchers Stewardship Alliance – Martin Townsend and David Naugle
Podcast

Podcast: Ranchers Stewardship Alliance – Martin Townsend and David Naugle

WLFW's David Naugle and Ranchers Stewardship Alliance's Martin Townsend talk conservation easements with Live Under the Big ...
From Bird To Biome: Keeping the range intact for wildlife and people
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From Bird To Biome: Keeping the range intact for wildlife and people

Learn more about our shift from species-specific conservation to biome-centric ...
Podcast: BOSH Project Restores Sagebrush Sea at Grand Scale
Podcast

Podcast: BOSH Project Restores Sagebrush Sea at Grand Scale

The BOSH Project is the largest restoration project in the sagebrush biome. Learn how it came together, what it's acheived, and what's next in this great podcast from The Art ...
Sustainable Ranching in Utah: A Boon For Wildlife And Livestock
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Sustainable Ranching in Utah: A Boon For Wildlife And Livestock

Stephen and Kris Ellis are keeping their family tradition of caring for the land and their livestock alive on the Circle Bar Ranch in northern ...
Western Working Lands Snapshot | Wildflowers
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Western Working Lands Snapshot | Wildflowers

Learn all about wildflowers, which are important for animals, pollination, and soil health on grazing lands in the western ...
Songbird field study backs win-win results of “umbrella species” habitat management
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Songbird field study backs win-win results of “umbrella species” habitat management

Researcher Elise Zarri spent four summers studying how songbirds responded to conifer removal targeted at sage grouse. We sat down with her and Katie Benzel, a biologist with ...
Who Fits Under the Sage Grouse Umbrella?
Publication Alert

Who Fits Under the Sage Grouse Umbrella?

WLFW science shows that umbrella species management benefits non-target species that have similar habitat use as target ...
Where Trees Are the Problem
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Where Trees Are the Problem

Learn about how woody species expansion or tree encroachment is impacting sagebrush and grassland ecosystems in this story from the North American Grouse Partnership ...
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 ...
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 ...
How To Watch The Best Mating Dance In The West
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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 placed much of their ranch in a conservation easement protecting prime working land from development and preserving habitat for elk, deer, and sage ...
Sage Grouse Populations Grow Faster After Tree Removal
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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
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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 ...
Sagebrush Framework in Focus: Wildlife Conservation Through Sustainable Ranching
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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
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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 ...
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 ...
Idaho Launches the Cheatgrass Challenge
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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 ...
Bugle Magazine | Thinking Like a Beaver
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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 ...
Montana Outdoors Magazine Article | The Herd and the Bird
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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
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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
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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
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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 ...
How do lesser prairie-chickens like mesquite removal? Ask an Expert with Dr. Christian Hagen
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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
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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 ...
Conservation Easements Continue to Protect Idaho’s Pioneers-To-Craters Landscape
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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
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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
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Big Picture of Woodland Management in Sagebrush Country

Science to Solutions - New research highlights reduction and expansion of conifer encroachment in sagebrush ...
Conservation Insight Report Confirms Benefits of Conifer Removal
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Conservation Insight Report Confirms Benefits of Conifer Removal

New report from the Conservation Effects Assessment Project confirms multiple benefits of removing encroaching ...
Our Amazing Grasslands Video – The Conner Ranch
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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 ...
Conserving Diverse Wet Habitats Keeps Western Rangelands Resilient
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Conserving Diverse Wet Habitats Keeps Western Rangelands Resilient

New research highlights the importance of mesic resources for sage grouse and other wildlife ...
Grazed Rangelands Produce Sage Grouse Chicks’ Preferred Food
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Grazed Rangelands Produce Sage Grouse Chicks’ Preferred Food

New research shows that grazing lands grow more bugs for birds to ...
#FridaysOnTheFarm | For Future Generations of Ranchers and Sage Grouse
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#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, ...
NEW SCIENCE | Middle Ground Found On The Range
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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 ...
Meet Leah Mori: Helping Ranchers Weather Wildfire Storms in Nevada’s Sagebrush Sea
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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
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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
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#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 ...
Combatting Cheatgrass On Private Ranch Lands In Wyoming Benefits Sage Grouse
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Combatting Cheatgrass On Private Ranch Lands In Wyoming Benefits Sage Grouse

Wyoming landowner DeWitt Morris is creating a model for other ranchers on how to thwart invasive cheatgrass on Mountain Springs ...
NEW SCIENCE: Visualizing Sage Grouse Habitat As “Hubs & Spokes”
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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Do Elk Need Sagebrush?
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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 ...
Grazing Management In Perspective: A Compatible Tool For Sage Grouse Conservation
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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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
Water Is Life: SGI’s Mesic Habitat Conservation Strategy
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Water Is Life: 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 ...
What Do Sage Grouse Do All Winter?
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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 ...
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 ...
New Research Finds That Sage Grouse Prefer Nesting In Conifer-Free Landscapes
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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 ...
Sagebrush Songbirds Under the Sage Grouse Umbrella
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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 ...
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 ...
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" ...
Report: Fence Markers Work To Prevent Sage Grouse Collisions
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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 ...
New Web-Based Tool Helps Save Sage Grouse From Fence Collisions
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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 ...
Scientific Research Shows How To Reduce The Risk Of Crop Cultivation To Protect Sage Grouse
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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 ...
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 ...
How Do Sage Grouse Mate?
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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 ...
New Research + Movie: Wet Habitats On Private Lands Critical For Sage Grouse
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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Wildfire and Cheatgrass: New Science Helps Reduce Threats to Sage Grouse
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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 ...
Conifer Removal Restores Sage Grouse Habitat
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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 ...