Guidelines to manage sage grouse populations and their habitats

The status of sage grouse populations and habitats has been a concern to sp ortsmen and biologists for >80 years. Despite management and research effor ts that date to the 1930s, breeding populations of this species have declin ed throughout much of its range. In May 1999, the western sage grouse (C. u rophasianus phaios) in Washington was petitioned for listing under the Enda ngered Species Act because of population and habitat declines (C. Warren, U nited States Fish and Wildlife Service, personal communication). Sage grous e populations are allied closely with sagebrush (Artemisia spp.). Despite t he well-known importance of this habitat to sage grouse and other sagebrush obligates, the quality and quantity of sagebrush habitats have declined fo r at least the last 50 years. Braun et at. (1977) provided guidelines for m aintenance of sage grouse habitats. Since publication of those guidelines, much more information has been obtained on sage grouse. Because of continue d concern about sage grouse and their habitats and a significant amount of new information, the Western States Sage and Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse Technical Committee, under the direction of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, requested a revision and expansion of the guideline s originally published by Braun et al. (1977). This paper summarizes the cu rrent knowledge of the ecology of sage grouse and, based on this informatio n, provides guidelines to manage sage grouse populations and their habitats .