No Silver Bullet Answers for Sage Grouse

There has been news that southeastern Oregon’s Lake County Sage Grouse populations have declined since the early 2000’s. This is an area of Hart Mountain where cattle have been removed for the past 23 years. One would think this may make a good case for livestock’s contribution in helping to provide beneficial habitat for the Sage Grouse.

President-elect of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association and rancher John O’Keefe says that the Sage Grouse population goes through cycles, you’ve got to really look at trends closely before interpreting just one series of data. And that statistically speaking, there hasn’t been in difference Sage Grouse populations between those areas that have restricted cattle and those areas currently grazing cattle.

However, he does stress that the birds benefit from all of the stewardship ranchers provide to the land where their cattle graze.

O’Keefe: “The take home message here is there is a lot of concern about Sage Grouse and grazing but it is not a silver bullet to remove the livestock. I think, in fact, it probably creates some risks that aren’t there originally. When we have producers, ranchers on the ground they put out fires, they control the fuel levels. The ranches provide the open space this specie needs. There is a lot of reasons why ranchers and Sage Grouse like the same thing — well managed rangelands and open space.”

Oregon ranchers that may be affected from any future regulations, the BLM is taking comments until February 20 on its draft land use plan amendment for Oregon. The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association website orcattle.org has more information.