Sage Grouse Listing Rejected
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rejected a petition by the Oregon-based Institute for Wildlife Protection seeking federal protection for the eastern sage grouse. On January 5, 2004, the agency’s regional director in Denver, Ralph Morgenweck, found that, “new biological information indicates that the eastern sage grouse is not a valid subspecies of the greater sage grouse, nor does it merit listing as a separate population,” according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

It is generally agreed that sage grouse populations are declining, in large part due to habitat loss. There is debate over what to do about it. Project partners hope to see the sage grouse population declines reversed without having the sage grouse listed. It is believed that federal listing would drastically limit management flexibility, narrow state and local options, and could severely hamper relationships with local partners.
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