Sage-Grouse Ecology and Western Conservation Issues

1. Sage-Grouse Ecology and Western Conservation Issues Kate Ennenga

2. Largest members of the North American grouse family Grayish-brown bird with a dark belly, and long and pointed tail feathers Sagebrush obligate�used for nesting, cover, and diet (especially important in winter) Two Distinct Species Greater Sage-Grouse (widely distributed in the West) Gunnison Sage-Grouse (distributed in Utah and Colorado)

3. Breeding and Nesting Ecology Leks (April-May) Males gather on communal breeding area Dominant hierarchy Strutting and posturing behaviors Only a few select males will actually mate with a female

4. Breeding and Nesting Ecology Nesting Dense, taller sagebrush to increase nest cover and safety 20-30% canopy cover is ideal Use cryptic coloration Six to ten eggs, 25 days of incubation Low (40-50%) nesting success is offset by high survival rates and a long life span.

5. History and Status Sage-grouse once inhabited sage-brush rangelands in 16 states and three Canadian Provinces Currently�populations exist in 10 states and one province Distribution of sage-grouse has declined 44% since European settlement Greater Sage-Grouse distribution declined 41.4% Gunnison Sage-Grouse distribution declined 30.7% 3.5% annual decline due to loss, fragmentation, and degradation of the sagebrush ecosystem

6. History and Status Early decline (1890-1930) excessive harvest, overgrazing by livestock, agricultural development, and drought Late 1940�s and early 1950�s Populations started to recover�received protection from hunting, range improvement, and range reversion Recent Declines Populations are again being decimated Various conservation groups petitioned the U.S.F.W.S to list the Gunnison Sage-Grouse and the Greater Sage-Grouse under the ESA Both species have been declined because so much land needed

7. History and Status Currently occupied habitat of sage-grouse in Utah covers primarily BLM administered and private lands Private lands 40.5% BLM 34.4% USFS 9.7% Utah State owned land (SITLA & UDWR) 9.5% Ute Tribal land 5.2% National Park Service and military reserves <2% Sage-grouse habitat quality and quantity decline has perpetuated a decline in sage-grouse numbers

8. Conservation Issues Large fragments of sage-grouse habitat have been lost throughout Utah and the western United States due to a variety of factors which include: Invasive species Fire regimes Energy development and urbanization Herbicide treatment Overgrazing Predator community alteration West Nile Virus Goal:Protect, enhance, and conserve sage-grouse populations and sagebrush-steppe ecosystems

9. Conservation Issues Invasive Species Exotic Cheatgrass Replaced native perenial bunchgrass Altered historic fire regimes Led to loss of large expanses of sagebrush Juniper Expansion Replaced sagebrush habitat

10. Conservation Issues Strategies??? Fire Suppress fire�more shrubby community; overly dense, decadent sagebrush of little value Increase fire�more cheatgrass, less sagebrush Lek trends�lek counts decrease after fire Fire regimes based on existing vegetation Burned and unburned patches

11. Conservation IssuesEnergy Development and Urbanization Sage-Grouse are losing sagebrush habitat to oil and gas development Well pads Well pad spacing at 40 acres Each well pad lose 4-5 acres of habitat Federal land management agencies typically impose stipulations on development to provide sage-grouse protection Energy Policy Act EPA 2005 mandates �stipulations on development shall only be as restrictive as necessary to protect the resource for which the restrictions apply�

12. Conservation Issues Energy Development and Urbanization Male lek attendance has decreased in association with development proximity Traffic volume and noise intensity disrupt grouse vocalization displays Nesting and brooding females avoid areas with high well density Power/high voltage lines provide power for drilling activity Attract raptors and golden eagles�room to perch; increase sage-grouse predation Sage-grouse injured when fly into these structures Sage-grouse do not like being around elevated structures�e.g., pump houses, tanks, pump jacks Between 300-3000 trucks make trips to the pad either delivering supplies or hauling water off. It is a 24/7 activity with large flood lights used at night.

13. Conservation Issues Energy Development and Urbanization Strategies to minimize sage-grouse/sagebrush disturbance� Protection buffers Distance recommendations�drilling activity .40 km away from lek�research shows activity should be at least 5 km away to be effective Seasonal/timing restrictions�no drilling activity near lek between 4-9 PM during breeding season �Perch preventers� Buried powerlines Wells near leks are not to be visited till later in the day Well/road placement�out of sight from lek Central tank batteries Smaller well pads Use of pipes instead of roads

14. Conservation Issues Herbicide treatments Grouse seldom use areas treated with herbicides Overgrazing Conservation strategies grazing management and big game regulations to maintain sagebrush habitat in good ecological condition (defined by USFS site guides)

15. Conservation Issues Predator Community Alteration Majority of sage-grouse nest failure is due to predation e.g., high raven populations decrease nest success Conservation Strategies? Predator removal (primarily coyotes) Removal of coyotes increases fox and raven populations�also sage-grouse predators Increase in jackrabbit populations correlate with a decrease in sage-grouse populations (apparent competition)

16. Conservation Issues West Nile Virus Documented in the U.S. in 1999, spread rapidly across North America At least 208 bird species affected by virus First detected in sage-grouse in 2003 West Nile Virus threat to sage-grouse related to human creation of standing water features in an otherwise arid environment Conservation Strategies: Pesticides and mosquito control

17. Conservation Strategies cont�d Provide cost-share funds to aid private landowners in protecting, managing, and restoring sage-grouse habitat Continue to conduct lek counts each year to allow monitoring of population trends Establish sage-grouse working groups including state and federal agencies and private groups Establish a hunting season consistent with the population biology of sage-grouse Allow permit-only hunting, maintaining a conservative harvest of less than 10% of estimated population

18. Examples of Current Research Topics Evaluate the effects of predation, insecticides, and other sources of mortality on the juvenile segment of sage-grouse populations Develop more effective habitat restoration techniques for sage-grouse habitat to improve success of rehabilitation efforts after wildfire and to restore previously degraded sagebrush communities Evaluate the effects of disease on sage-grouse populations Evaluate the effects of loud noises and other disturbances on sage-grouse attending leks Evaluate the effects of existing water developments on sage-grouse populations

19. Get Involved Community Based Conservation Program Local Working Groups Box Elder County, Cache Valley and East Box Elder, Carbon, Color Country, Morgan, Parker Mountain, Rich County CRM, San Juan County, Southwest Desert, Strawberry Valley, Uinta Basin, West Desert Mission To implement a process that enhances coordination and communication between community-based adaptive resource management working groups, private, and public partners. To develop �seamless� plans for designated Utah geographic areas that contribute to the conservation of sage-grouse and other wildlife species that inhabit Utah�s sagebrush-steppe ecosystems and enhance the economic sustainability of local communities.

20. Get Involved Petitioning US Fish and Wildlife Service Previous petitions denied but additional petitions are still being developed Letter expressing concerns may be sent to� Dean Mitchell�Upland Game Coordinator Jim Karpozitz (DWR Director)

21. Questions???