Though the greater sage-grouse as a whole is not considered endangered by the IUCN, local populations may be in serious danger of extinction. In May 2000, the Canadian Species at Risk Act listed the Centrocercus urophasianus phaios, formerly found in British Columbia, as being extirpated in Canada.
One idea is that The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designated the greater sage-grouse as Threatened in 1997, and re-designated the species as Endangered in April 1998. The status was reevaluated and confirmed in May 2000 and April 2008.
One answer is that the Gunnison sage grouse, a subspecies of Greater sage grouse, was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act this week. This past Wednesday, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans to list the Gunnison sage grouse as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Is the greater sage-grouse going extinct?
In issuing its finding, the FWS stated that: A status review conducted by the Service has found that the greater sage-grouse remains relatively abundant and well-distributed across the species’ 173-million acre range and does not face the risk of extinction now or in the foreseeable future.
Are sage grouse threatened?
Greater sage- grouse do not have a muscular crop and are not able to digest hard seeds like other grouse. The species is in decline across its range due to habitat loss and has been recognized as threatened or near threatened by several national and international organizations.
The Greater Sage-Grouse is considered a keystone species for the entire sagebrush ecosystem, since sufficient conservation efforts for the bird would in effect protect an additional 350 species of wildlife as well as the viability of the agricultural landscape.
How does the protection of the sage-grouse affect other species?
The protection of sage-grouse impacts the other species that share the same habitat, such as pronghorn and songbirds. Oil and gas development disrupts the landscape and the sage-grouse’s ability to reproduce.
When we were writing we ran into the inquiry “How can we save the greater sage grouse?”.
The answer is that The greater sage grouse, for example, is surviving on just half of its historic range, and oil and gas wells, wind farms, and other energy projects continue to chisel away at that land. NRDC is pushing for comprehensive recovery plans for the bird at the state and national levels while also encouraging smart siting for renewable power projects.
One question we ran across in our research was “Why are sage grouse important to the environment?”.
Sage-grouse are indicators of healthy, intact sagebrush habitat. The protection of sage-grouse impacts the other species that share the same habitat, such as pronghorn and songbirds. Oil and gas development disrupts the landscape and the sage-grouse’s ability to reproduce.
Where do sage grouse live in the US?
Greater sage-grouse were once found across 13 western U. States and 3 Canadian provinces.
Its range is sagebrush country in the western United States and southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. It was known as simply the sage grouse until the Gunnison sage-grouse was recognized as a separate species in 2000. The Mono Basin population of sage grouse may also be distinct.