Sage Grouse Conservation Goal Of Public Conference

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host, in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and the Montana Wildlife Federation, a day-long conference on sage grouse conservation Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Elks Club in Bozeman from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The conference will provide information about the status, biology and management of sage grouse in the state and is a first step in preparing a long-range conservation plan for sage grouse and sagebrush-grassland habitats. Sage grouse authorities from Idaho and Washington will describe their work with the species and federal and state agency staff, landowners, hunters, tribal representatives and conservationists will discuss grouse and habitat conservation issues important to a long-range plan. Petitions to list sage grouse in Colorado and Washington have been filed under the federal Endangered Species Act. Populations of fewer than 7,000 birds survive in those states, while Montana has populations estimated in the tens of thousands. Loss and fragmentation of sage grouse habitat across the West due to development, wildfire, and weed invasion are a threat to the species. The conference, made possible in part by a grant from the Cinnabar Foundation, is free of charge. For more information contact Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Wildlife Division at 406-444-2612.