USGS report details greater sage-grouse decline

Greater sage-grouse populations have declined significantly over the last six decades, according to a new report by the U.S. Geological Survey. The report documents an 80% rangewide decline since 1965 and a nearly 40% decline since 2002.

The report, “Range-Wide Greater Sage-Grouse Hierarchical Monitoring Framework,” offers an approach to evaluate the effectiveness of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) conservation efforts and analyze factors that contribute to habitat loss and population change. Researchers found that declines were steepest in the western portion of its range.

Read more from the USGS, and read the report here