The Greater Sage The Greater Sage-grouse: The Greater Sage The Greater Sage grouse: grouse: grouse: Ecology, ESA Finding, Threats, and Solutions Ecology, ESA Finding, Threats, and Solutions Joint Military Affairs Committee Joint Military Affairs Committee Joint Military Affairs Committee Joint Military Affairs Committee February 7, 2011 February 7, 2011
Ecology of the Sage Ecology of the Sage- -grouse grouse � Largest grouse in North America Largest grouse in North America � Males much larger than females Males much larger than females � Sagebrush obligate species Sagebrush obligate species ‐ ‐ Sagebrush is primary food Sagebrush is primary food ‐ Also eats Forbs and insects Also eats Forbs and insects � Migratory Migratory � Faithful to breeding display sites (leks) � Faithful to breeding display sites (leks) Faithful to breeding display sites (leks) Faithful to breeding display sites (leks)
Ecology of the Sage Ecology of the Sage- -grouse grouse � Clutch size averages 7.1 eggs Clutch size averages 7.1 eggs � Likelihood of nesting averages 78.4% Likelihood of nesting averages 78.4% Likelihood of nesting averages 78.4% Likelihood of nesting averages 78.4% � Re Re ‐ nesting averages 30% nesting averages 30% � Average percent nest success is 52.1% A A Average percent nest success is 52.1% t t t t i 52 1% i 52 1%
The Habitat The Habitat � “Landscape Scale” species vast life history needs “Landscape Scale” species vast life history needs Sage grouse habitat: Sage Sage ‐ grouse habitat: Sage grouse habitat: grouse habitat: � Breeding Breeding ‐ lek, nesting lek, nesting � Summer and Late Brood � Summer and Late Brood Summer and Late Brood Summer and Late Brood � Fall Transitional period Fall Transitional period � Winter Winter ‐ ‐ Diet is exclusively sagebrush Diet is exclusively sagebrush � Select by snow depth, hardness, topography and vegetation Select by snow depth, hardness, topography and vegetation y y p p p g p g p y p y g g height and cover height and cover
Habitat Habitat - - The Lek The Lek � A A Lek Lek is a traditional display area is a traditional display area where two or more male sage where two or more male sage ‐ grouse grouse have attended in 2 or more of previous 5 yrs have attended in 2 or more of previous 5 yrs � Occur in relatively open areas Occur in relatively open areas � Range in size from 0.25 to 16 hectare Range in size from 0.25 to 16 hectare � Males display early morning and evening hours Males display early morning and evening hours � 2.1 km from the lek to day use � The period from March The period from March ‐ ‐ June often represents higher mortality June often represents higher mortality � In Idaho, 43% documented deaths occurred during this time frame
Lek Locations Lek Locations
Nesting Habitat Nesting Habitat � Landscapes usually dominated by sagebrush Landscapes usually dominated by sagebrush � Nest under sagebrush shrubs. Nest under sagebrush shrubs. � 70% under big sagebrush, 17% under black sagebrush 70% under big sagebrush, 17% under black sagebrush � Canopy cover between Canopy cover between 15 15 ‐ ‐ 50% 50%. � Sagebrush height averaged � Sagebrush height averaged Sagebrush height averaged 46 4 cm (18 in) Sagebrush height averaged 46.4 cm (18 in) 46 4 cm (18 in) 46.4 cm (18 in) � Mean distance of nest sites from lek where female was Mean distance of nest sites from lek where female was captured captured 3.4 p 3.4 ‐ ‐ 4.6 km in Idaho and 4.0 in Colorado. 4.6 km in Idaho and 4.0 in Colorado.
Summer/Late Brood Rearing Habitat Summer/Late Brood Rearing Habitat g � Riparian corridors, wet meadows, irrigated fields, alfalfa pivot Riparian corridors, wet meadows, irrigated fields, alfalfa pivot � Movement to higher elevation sites can occur Movement to higher elevation sites can occur � Typically July through September Typically July through September � In Nevada, elevated mortality has been documented during In Nevada, elevated mortality has been documented during this time frame this time frame
Winter Habitat • Often dominated by big sagebrush species Often dominated by big sagebrush species • Canopy cover varies from 6% to 43% Canopy cover varies from 6% to 43% • Wyoming big sagebrush important during the winter Wyoming big sagebrush important during the winter W W i i bi bi b b h i h i t t t d t d i i th th i t i t – Use of mountain big sagebrush, black sagebrush and even low Use of mountain big sagebrush, black sagebrush and even low sagebrush has been documented. sagebrush has been documented. • Aspect (south to southwest facing slopes) and use of lower Aspect (south to southwest facing slopes) and use of lower elevation sagebrush habitats help sage elevation sagebrush habitats help sage ‐ grouse find forage grouse find forage during the winter months during the winter months during the winter months during the winter months. .
Distribution (Current vs. Historic)
Sage Sage ‐ grouse grouse distribution distribution Sage Sagebrush brush distribution distribution
Population Population Management Management Units Units Units Units
Sage Sage-grouse Population Status g grouse Population Status g g p p • Surveyed 738 leks in Nevada Surveyed 738 leks in Nevada ‐ ‐ 405 were active in 2011 405 were active in 2011 • Observed a total of 7,755 male sage Observed a total of 7,755 male sage ‐ grouse grouse • 2010 Production = 1.85 chicks per hen and nest success was 2010 P 2010 Production = 1.85 chicks per hen and nest success was 2010 P d d ti ti 1 85 hi k 1 85 hi k h h d d t t estimated at 54%. estimated at 54%. • 2011 Production = 1.43 chicks per hen and nest success was 2011 Production = 1.43 chicks per hen and nest success was estimated at 52.4% estimated at 52.4%
Population of Sage- Population of Sage -grouse in grouse in N N Nevada Nevada d d Nevada Sage ‐ grouse Harvest Information 30,000 30 000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 Estimated Sage ‐ grouse Harvest Estimated # of Hunters
Annual Harvest in Relation to Fall P Population Estimates for Nevada l ti E ti t f N d 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 5,244 3176 3701 4897 5775 8944 7,355 6,141 Harvest 146,327 155,305 115,385 107,601 139,206 140,056 141,996 168,120 Fall Population Estimate Estimate Percentage 3.6% 2.0% 3.2% 4.6% 4.1% 7.1% 5.2% 3.7%
Nevada Sage ‐ grouse Trend Lek Counts Average Male Attendance (1975 ‐ 2010) 70 0 70.0 60 60 60.0 50 50.0 40 s Average # of Males # of Leks Counted 40.0 30 30.0 A 20 20.0 10 10.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 # of Leks Counted Average Male Attendance Long Term Average Log. (Average Male Attendance)
U S Fish & Wildlife Service Threat Determination U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Threat Determination U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Threat Determination U S Fish & Wildlife Service Threat Determination on all Endangered Species Act (ESA) Listings on all Endangered Species Act (ESA) Listings • Damage amage to, or destruction of, a to, or destruction of, a species’ habitat species’ habitat • Overutilization Overutilization of the of the species for species for commercial, recreational, commercial, recreational, scientific, or scientific, or educational scientific or educational scientific or educational purposes educational purposes purposes purposes • Disease or predation Disease or predation • Inadequacy Inadequacy of Inadequacy Inadequacy of of existing protection of existing protection existing protection existing protection • Other natural or manmade Other natural or manmade factors that affect the factors that affect the continued continued existence existence of the species. of the species.
ESA Status for Greater Sage ESA Status for Greater Sage-Grouse g Grouse • January 2005 January 2005 ‐ ‐ FWS issued 12 FWS issued 12 ‐ month “not warranted” month “not warranted” finding finding finding finding – Greater listing priority number (LPN) 8 – Bi ‐ State distinct population segment (DPS) LPN 3 • December 2007 December 2007 – District Court remanded FWS decision District Court remanded FWS decision • March 2010 March 2010 – FWS Issued “warranted but precluded” h FWS Issued “warranted but precluded” d “ d “ d b d b l d d” l d d” finding making the greater sage finding making the greater sage ‐ grouse a “candidate” for grouse a “candidate” for listing listing • FY 2013 FY 2013 – Bi Bi ‐ State final listing decision State final listing decision • FY 2015 FY 2015 – Greater Sage Greater Sage ‐ Grouse final listing decision Grouse final listing decision
#1 Threats to Sage-Grouse g FWS considers the 4 red arrows tied for 1st (invasive species, i infrastructure, wildfire, and energy development) Oil and gas includes other types of energy ‐ wind, uranium, and geothermal Agriculture is a close 2, because of its relatively limited distribution Threats vary across Threats vary across the range
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