03/31/08 Sage grouse listing debate

Should sage grouse be added to the federal Endangered Species List? Federal Judge Lynn Winmill has told the US Fish and Wildlife Service to take a second look at sage grouse after originally determining that listing was not warranted. A federal sage grouse listing would pre-empt state management plans, restrict some farming activities, put additional burdens on landowners and impact livestock grazing and recreational activities. American Farm Bureau's Rick Krause says while the federal agency is taking comments and before a decision is reached local groups have come together to improve sage grouse habitat and keep them off the ESA list. He hopes states will adopt plans like Colorado recently did. KRAUSE "Allowing certain activities to occur in those areas that are consistent with sage grouse and basically what it does at those times when its very critical such as breeding season and that that activities have to stop for awhile." And in times when they can co-exist they can move forward. Krause says working with state farm bureaus they're collecting information to supply to Fish and Wildlife to make their case. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott