FWP Seeks Comments On Final Sage Grouse Plan

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking comment by July 16 on a revised Environmental Assessment that is part of the overall management plan and conservation strategies developed for sage grouse in Montana.

A conservation and management plan has been in the works for nearly three years. The sage grouse is a native upland game bird that a number of groups have petitioned for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act.

In March, FWP provided a proposed plan and EA for public comment. Those comments were used in making revisions to produce a supplemental environmental assessment now available for review.

The revisions generally help clarify the three proposed alternatives for action. Each alternative addresses to varying degrees the conservation of sage grouse and important sagebrush-grassland habitats, in order to maintain state authority to manage sage grouse.  

Under the proposed plan, state wildlife managers, public-land managers, and private landowners each have flexible guidelines for local conservation options.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently determined that a more in-depth examination of the status of sage grouse is warranted. This finding comes in response to three different petitions seeking federal protection for the sage grouse, North America’s largest grouse best known for its distinctive spring mating rituals on breeding grounds called "leks."

Once found in 16 western states and three Canadian provinces, today sage grouse are found in 11 states and in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. The bird’s remaining strongholds are in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon.

The Montana Sage Grouse Work Group, a mix of state and federal agencies, hunting groups, Montana Indian tribes, conservation groups, stockgrowers, and individuals, was formed in 2001 and met monthly in different communities to examine the sage grouse’s status in Montana. The group sought to develop a science-based conservation plan to address factors that may impact sage grouse populations.

Comment by July 16 by writing to: Sage Grouse Comments; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59620-0701. Send email comments to: fwpwld@state.mt.us .

Copies of the EA and proposed plan are online at www.fwp.state.mt.us under Public Notices or to request a copy by mail write to: Sage Grouse Plan, Montana FWP, P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59620-0701.