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Conservation

There's little sage left for the Gunnison sage grouse

"Like a pot of boiling water" is how Jessica Young of Western State College of Colorado describes the sounds of male Gunnison sage grouse trying to attract females. Young helped describe the grouse, recently separated as a new species from the more abundant northern sage grouse. Numbering fewer than 4,000, Gunnisons already are candidates for the endangered species list. The birds live in only seven Colorado counties and one in Utah. They've lost much of their habitat to roads, reservoirs, and ranches. "Their entire lives are tied to sagebrush for food and shelter," says Young.

— John L. Eliot

Web Links

Gunnison Sage Grouse Conservation Plan
www.co.blm.gov/gra/sagegrouse.htm
This Bureau of Land Management site provides background information on the threats facing the Gunnison sage grouse and outlines the bureau's strategy for protecting the species.

The Gunnison Sage Grouse
www.western.edu/bio/young/gunnsg/gunnsg.htm
Complete with photographs, a map, and audio and video of the birds, this site provides a wealth of information about the Gunnison sage grouse.