Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Sage grouse numbers stumble in Montana, across US West

in News
Sage grouse numbers stumble in Montana, across US West
Outlaw Partnersby Outlaw Partners
September 16, 2019

By Matthew Brown ASSOCIATED PRESS

BILLINGS — Montana’s greater sage grouse population has fallen more than 40 percent over the past three years, mirroring recent declines across the U.S. West for the wide-ranging bird species that federal officials rejected for protections in 2015.

State wildlife officials estimate there were about 44,000 ground-dwelling sage grouse in Montana this spring. The figure is included in a report to be delivered to state lawmakers later this month.

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad

Sage grouse once numbered in the millions but have seen their range that stretches across portions of 11 states diminished by oil and gas drilling, wildfires, grazing and other pressures.

Grouse numbers also continued to drop in 2019 in Oregon, Idaho , Nevada and Wyoming. Weather can affect populations from year to year, and wildlife officials say those short-term cycles are most directly responsible for the recent declines.

Montana’s drop from almost 78,000 grouse in 2016 was traced to an extreme drought in eastern parts of the state in 2017 that had prolonged impacts, said Catherine Wightman with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The decline coincides with increased efforts to conserve grouse habitat, including by working with private landowners to adopt grazing and other practices that are more beneficial to the bird.

“That doesn’t mean those plans are not working and doing the right thing,” said Wightman. “We’re seeing this overall decline. The analysis shows overall the (population) peaks are getting a little lower and the valleys are getting a little lower. What we’d like to do is stabilize our numbers.”

Wyoming’s population drop was measured by counting the number of male birds strutting on grouse breeding grounds known as leks, said Sara DiRienzo with Wyoming Game and Fish. The number of birds per lek has dropped about 20 percent since 2018 and more than 40 percent since 2016, according to agency figures.

This year’s numbers are still above the low levels reached in 2013, DiRienzo said, and likely reflect dry conditions and extreme winter weather that caused many chicks to die.

Wyoming does not have an overall population estimate.

Brian Rutledge with the National Audubon Society said the population drops should not be written off just because they are cyclical, since ongoing habitat loss makes it harder for the bird’s numbers to rebound each time they drop.

“We’re not in a position to say this is OK. We have too many things working against us,” he said.

In Oregon, bird numbers this year reached their lowest number since reliable estimates have been recorded beginning in 1996, said sage grouse conservation coordinator Lee Foster with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The state counted approximately 14,000 grouse, less than half the state’s target of 30,000 birds.

“I’m very hopeful we’re at the bottom this year,” Foster said. “There is cause for concern even if the trend fits within what we would expect with the population cycle.”

Grouse numbers in Idaho have dropped more than 50 percent since 2015. Nevada reported an 8 percent decline this year in lek counts of male birds.

The bird’s population also was down in Utah, with the 2019 lek count marking a 61 percent decline from 2015, according to state wildlife officials. Part of that low number was attributed to a snow pack that lingered longer than usual, preventing people from getting to some of the areas they normally count, said Blair Stringham of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

The 2015 decision not to protect sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act came after state and federal officials crafted sweeping conservation plans for the birds across their range.

Under Republican President Donald Trump, the Interior Department has relaxed restrictions on mining and drilling that were included in the original plans adopted under his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama. Impacts from those changes are expected to be long-term and not reflected in the latest population numbers.

Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes

Upcoming Events

May 20
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Event Series

American Legion Bingo

May 21
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

“On the Face of it,” an original Big Sky Community production

May 23
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at Waypoint

May 27
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Event Series

American Legion Bingo

May 30
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Trivia at the Waypoint

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

Big Sky May 6 election results
Featured

Big Sky May 6 election results

May 6, 2025
Big Sky track teams race towards end of season
News

Big Sky track teams race towards end of season

April 29, 2025
Wildfire Wire: Pitch in for all of us 
News

Wildfire Wire: Pitch in for all of us 

April 29, 2025
Skim or swim: Big Sky’s closing weekend makes a splash with the return of pond skim
Featured

Skim or swim: Big Sky’s closing weekend makes a splash with the return of pond skim

April 28, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Big Sky PBR
  • Hey Bear
  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Plan Yellowstone

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube