Overview of the issue
The TRCP has been on the front lines of sage grouse conservation for years. The decline of this iconic game bird of the American West indicates that sagebrush habitat is in trouble, and we care because sagebrush ecosystems are home to more than 350 different species of plants and animals, including such iconic game species as pronghorn antelope and mule deer.
Through effective activation of our grassroots network, the TRCP and its partners have bolstered the multi-pronged approach to sage grouse conservation that has kept the bird off the Endangered Species list. We were strategically engaged with outdoor and national media hungry for grouse information. We also helped stop congressional opponents from derailing the process. Finally, we successfully advocated for strong agency funding to implement critical conservation plans.
But now the future of these plans is in limbo. For a refresher on how we got here, scroll through our timeline of sage grouse conservation milestones.
A History of Sage Grouse Conservation in the U.S.
Sage Grouse
A Turning Point in Hunting’s History
In 1900, the Lacey Act is signed into law, ending market hunting in the U.S. Each state becomes responsible for the management of its sage grouse—along with all other fish and wildlife species—and the establishment of hunting seasons and bag limits.
An Icon Urges States to Get Real
William Temple Hornady publishes his “Save the Sage from Extinction” bulletin, which calls out the states for excessive sage grouse hunting seasons and bag limits.
Concerns Over Sage Grouse Reach Decision-Makers
Over the course of four years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service receives eight petitions to list the greater sage grouse as threatened or endangered in all or parts of the bird’s range.
An Epic Planning Effort Begins
The Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and 11 Western states embark on a historic conservation planning effort to amend resource management and forest plans to address range-wide declines in greater sage grouse populations.
Sage Grouse Not Added to Endangered or Threatened List
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announces that the range-wide population of greater sage grouse does not warrant Endangered Species Act protections, largely predicated on the strength of the collaborative conservation plans. This is a watershed moment for proactive, landscape-scale conservation!
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A Long-Term Downward Trend
Compared to 2016, there are 30 to 60 percent fewer male sage grouse dancing on their breeding grounds across the 11 Western states leading into the spring mating season. LEARN MORE >
Popular Sage Grouse Hunting Units Closed
Colorado closes sage grouse hunting in two of the best units in the state because of lost habitat and fewer birds counted for three consecutive years. Nevada offers 40 percent fewer special permits to hunt grouse on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. Idaho, once a major stronghold for sage grouse offering liberal seasons and bag limits, now allows just one bird per day for either a 2- or 7-day season, depending on the unit. Oregon reduces the number of limited permits available to hunters for the 2020 season. And sage grouse hunting remains closed in parts of Wyoming, the Dakotas, California, and Washington. LEARN MORE >
Why does TRCP care?
The fact that a once common, widely distributed and liberally harvested game bird even had to be considered for listing under the ESA should concern all sportsmen and women. Also, the sagebrush sea is home to so many species we love to pursue – pronghorn, mule deer, elk and sage grouse. It plays a role in the region’s vibrant rural economy, way of life, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
The long-term future of sage grouse and the sagebrush ecosystem is still being shaped by the decisions we make today. Continued habitat loss and degradation, combined with the uncertainty of conservation plans that face political and legal challenges, do not bode well for the species or people that depend on the sagebrush sea. Leadership, adequate funding, and strong policies–for implementation of federal and state plans and continued private lands conservation programs–are all vital.
We cannot waver or be short-sighted. Conservation efforts for sage grouse will act as an umbrella and help conserve not just the 350 species of plants and animals across 11 western states, but also a sustainable and prosperous future for the West.
