Sage grouse decision may have big consequences
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.

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 past President of the Western Watersheds Project.
2 Responses to Sage grouse decision may have big consequences
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Recent Posts
- Ambler Road A Threat to Alaska’s Wildlands January 24, 2021
- Reader generated wildlife news. January 24, 2021
- Protect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Wildlands January 18, 2021
- An open letter to the Oregon Bureau of Land Management on Hammond Ranches, Inc. proposed permit January 5, 2021
- Ochoco Forest Deceptions For Logging January 3, 2021
Recent Comments
- Ida Lupine on Reader generated wildlife news.
- WM on Reader generated wildlife news.
- Hiker on Protect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Wildlands
- Hiker on Reader generated wildlife news.
- Hiker on Reader generated wildlife news.
- Ida Lupine on Protect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Wildlands
- Nancy on Reader generated wildlife news.
- James A Bailey on Reader generated wildlife news.
- Ed Loosli on Protect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Wildlands
- Paul Griffin on Protect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Wildlands
- Ida Lupine on Mexican wolf killings expose a dark underbelly of western culture
- Beeline on Protect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Wildlands
- Rich on An open letter to the Oregon Bureau of Land Management on Hammond Ranches, Inc. proposed permit
- Maggie Frazier on An open letter to the Oregon Bureau of Land Management on Hammond Ranches, Inc. proposed permit
- Maggie Frazier on An open letter to the Oregon Bureau of Land Management on Hammond Ranches, Inc. proposed permit
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.