Governor Matt Mead released his plan for Sage Grouse conservation in Wyoming earlier this month, but September’s federal deadline to decide on endangered species listing is rapidly approaching. Scientists across the west are now engaged in a discussion of whether or not states are doing enough to adequately protect the bird’s numbers.
An upcoming panel at the University of Wyoming will attempt to address some of those issues.
One of the panelists is Matt Holloran, a senior ecologist at Wyoming Wildlife Consultants who has studied Sage Grouse for nearly 20 years. He says he supports conservation and restrictions at the state level.
"I believe that they’re restrictive enough. Now I think that that does require, and proof is not the right word, but monitoring is required as we move forward into the future to ensure that the actions that have been implemented in the plans are effective at reducing declining populations," says Holloran.
Holloran says in order to reverse population declines in the bird, we need to think proactively and begin to restore the habitat we do have to make it more suitable to Grouse. He says that would help with incremental increases in population.
"Instead of a hen fledging 3 chicks she fledges 4. Instead of you know, 25% of your hens fledging chicks this year 35% of your hens are fledging chicks."
The panel will be held in conjunction with a screening of the PBS documentary “The Sagebrush Sea,” and will take place at the University of Wyoming Berry Biodiversity Center at 6pm Wednesday night.