The decision could have widespread ramifications for sage grouse habitat, which includes portions of at least eight Western states, including large swaths of Montana and Wyoming and the Powder River Basin, where there’s intense interest in energy development. Brodie Farquhar has an article about the politics of it in Wyoming. ‘Wyoming officials say listing the sage grouse would be a ‘grave concern.’ Casper Star Tribune.
More on 12-7. Birds come home to roost. Federal judge: former U.S. official’s handling of sage grouse decision improper. By Jason Kauffman. Idaho Mountain Express.
Note that Idaho sage grouse numbers declined further during 2007.
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is President of the Western Watersheds Project.
Just think, tonight Dick Cheney and the his gang of Oil Piilaging Energy Company Thugs and Larry Craig’s Public Lands Welfare Rancher Whiners are having nightmares featuring a big docile (unless you happen to be a male in early spring) sagebrush-eating bird … A bird that just happens to move across vast areas of the landscape over the course of the year .. and with a deep-seated tendency to AVOID or DIE in areas of human disturbance …
I did a quick lit. search and what I’m finding as far as ranching as it relates to sage grouse is that the conversion of sage habitat to grassland for garazing is the threat. Are there others? If somebody could point me toward some scientific articles, that would be great. I’m just rrying to understand why Ranchers are so opposed to sage grouse protection. I understand why energy companies are.