The clock is ticking for Governor Mead and his sage grouse team. They have a September deadline to re-evaluate their so-called Core Area Strategy that would slow the bird’s declining population so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife doesn’t list it as an endangered species.
National Audubon Vice President Brian Rutledge is a member of the governor’s team. He says one issue the group is facing is whether to recommend protecting a 60,000 acre area near Pinedale. Thousands of grouse now winter there but it's also where a gas field has been proposed. Rutledge says more needs to be learned about the grouse’s winter habitat.
“It’s probably the area of their life we know the least about,” Rutledge says. “And when we did the original Core Area mapping, one of the things we called out was the necessity of learning more about the seasonal ranges.”
We have a great opportunity here to prove that there is no need to list this bird, that the states can handle this.
Rutledge says the sage grouse team is comprised of advocates from many groups including energy developers, ranchers and conservationists. He says they’re dedicated to protecting the bird.
“We have a great opportunity here to prove that there is no need to list this bird, that the states can handle this. And, in part, Wyoming—home to 37-percent of the sage grouse in the world—can handle this, and are committed to doing it.”
But some scientists have questioned the rigor of Wyoming's sage grouse plan. Earlier this month, several biologists wrote a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell demanding stronger protections.
Governor Mead and his sage grouse team are holding several public input meetings around the state in coming weeks. Here's a list of the April meetings.
- April 2 – Pinedale, Sublette County Library, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., will cover proposed revisions in the Upper Snake River Basin, Upper Green River Basin and South-Central LWG areas.
- April 9 – Lander, WGFD office, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., proposed revisions for the Wind River/Sweetwater River, Bates Hole/Shirley Basin and South-Central LWG areas.
- April 28 – Buffalo, Firehall, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., proposed revisions for the Bighorn Basin and Northeast LWG areas.
