3-23 FB Latest on Sage Grouse

 The sage grouse may be a small animal but it’s leaving a huge imprint on the West. I’m David Sparks with more in a minute. Well it’s all over the news…again.

Headline: Casper Star Tribune Court favors sage grouse. The article goes on to say “The federal government more than a week ago determined that the sage grouse warranted listing as threatened or endangered, but there were other species considered to be in greater danger that took priority.

Headline in Salt Lake Tribune—Feds pledge money for sage grouse in West. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to allocate up to $16 million to encourage farmers and ranchers in 11 Western states to protect sage grouse and the chicken-sized bird's habitat.

The funding announcement comes a week after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the sage grouse deserves federal protection but wouldn't be listed because other species were in greater danger.

Right here in Idaho, we have something to say as well. Here’s the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services Mark Weatherspoon talking about Fish and Game recent decision: They determined that the species was warranted but precluded meaning warranted to be a listed species  but because of other priority species, this bird will not be listed as endangered.

The latest court ruling means the agency will have to ensure that livestock grazing will not harm the recovery of the sage grouse and other species