Want to learn more about the latest information and research on the Greater Sage-grouse and its habitat, in Canada and the US? Here's what you need to know.
Federal & Provincial Government Initiatives and Information
- Parks Canada.2009. Environmental Impact Assessment: Species at Risk Recovery Planning. Recovery strategy for the greater sage-grouse (Cenrocercus urophasianus urophasianus) in Canada. General statement summarizing the Strategic Environmental Assessment done by the Government of Canada on the recovery plan for Sage-Grouse. The SEA itself is not available.
- Sage-grouse species profile from the Species at Risk Public Registry.
- COSEWIC. 2008. COSEWIC Assessment and Update Status Report on the Greater Sage Grouse in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii +38 pp. Most recent assessment done by the Government of Canada on assessing the status of the Greater Sage-Grouse. The species remained classified as Endangered following this assessment.
- Alberta Sage Grouse Recovery Action Group. 2009. Alberta Sage-grouse Recovery Team Update. Alberta Sustainable Resources Development. Supplement to the following report from 2005:
- Alberta Sage Grouse Recovery Action Group. 2005. Alberta Greater Sage-Grouse Recovery Plan 2005-2010, ASRD, Fish & Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 8., Edmonton, AB. 33 pp.
Scientific Studies, Summaries and Reports
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Sage-Grouse Genetic Structure. Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research of Dr. Krissy Bird (Bush).
- Genetic Diversity Analysis of Sage-Grouse & Sharp-tailed Grouse. Post-Doctoral Research project of Krista Bush. College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho.
- Genetic Diversity & Paternity Anaylsis of Endangered Canadian Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Ph.D. Thesis project of Krista Bush. University of Alberta Department of Biological Sciences.
- Boyce, M. 2011. “Rapid decline of the Greater Sage-grouse in Alberta” in Wild Lands Advocate, Vol 19 No. 2. Pgs 4-6. An examination of the current precarious state of the sage-grouse in Alberta, referencing current research and evaluating federal and provincial government response.
- Communique from the Emergency Sage-grouse Summit, September 7,8 2011, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Communique prepared from the 2-day emergency summit; provide specific recommendations on immediate actions needed to help the current sage-grouse population. Signed by 15 individuals and organizations involved in sage-grouse research and conservation.
- Dalton, S, J. So, G.J. McDermid & C. Gates. 2011. Enhancing operational land use decisions for Sage-grouse recovery in Alberta. Spatial Knowledge and Information – Canada conference. Fernie, BC.
Abstract for presentation made at the March 2011 Spatial Knowledge and Information – Canada conference held in Fernie, BC.
- Beck, J. 2009. Impacts of oil and natural gas on prairie grouse: current knowledge and research needs. Presented at the 2009 National meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Billings MT, “Revitalizing the environment: Proven solutions and innovative approaches”
Review of current research on the 4 types of prairie grouse related to oil & gas development in US and Canada.
- Chernoff, G., B. Stelfox, G. Greenaway. 2008. ALCES-Base habitat simulation modeling for greater sage-grouse in southeastern Alberta. Final report for the Greater Sage-Grouse Recovery Action Group.
Article projecting possible impact of future oil and gas development on sage grouse habitat
- Rowland, M.M. 2004. Effects of management practices on grassland birds: Greater Sage-grouse. Northern Prairie wildlife research centre, Jamestown ND. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Centre online.
Reviews the impact of management – including conversion of sagebrush lands to human use, controlling sagebrush growth – on sage-grouse.
- Adams, BW, J. Carlson, D. Miler, T. Hood, B. Cairns and P. Herzog. 2004. Beneficial grazing management practices for Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and ecology of silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) in southeastern Alberta. Technical Report, Public Lands and Forests Division, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Pub. No. T/049. 60 pp.
A report discussing the importance of maintaining sage-grouse habitat in southeastern Alberta, while taking into consideration the needs of the herds who used the land for grazing. Research indicates that sage-grouse in Alberta use all plant communities in their landscape, not only the sagebrush often considered the only priority in management of sage-grouse habitat.
- Aldridge, CL. 2001. Developing a habitat-based population viability model for greater sage-grouse in southeastern Alberta. 2001 Report. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish & Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 56. Edmonton, AB. 12 pp.
- Aldridge, Cameron. 1998. Status of the sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus) in Alberta. Alberta Environmental Protection, wildlife Management Division, and Alberta Conservation Association, Wildlife Status Report no. 13. Edmonton, AB. 23 pp.
1998 report for Alberta Conservation Association on the state of the Sage-Grouse in Alberta.
US Initiatives Surrounding Sage-Grouse Conservation
- Rowland, M.M. & M.J. Wisdom. 2002. Research problem analysis for greater Sage-grouse in Oregon. Final Report. Oregon Department of Fish & wildlife, US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon/Washington state office and US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 75 p.
Research review and gap analysis of existing information on sage-grouse populations and habitat, intending to identify areas where further research is required in order to enable governments to make informed decisions on preventing further populations declines.
- Vodehnal, W. et. al. 2007. A Grassland conservation plan for Prairie Grouse. North American Grouse Partnership.
A plan developed by the North American Grouse Partnership for the management of prairie grouse populations (3 species only, not including Greater Sage-grouse), in order to sustain their populations and maintain their habitat.
- Stiver, SJ, AD Apa, JR Bohne, SD Bunnell, et.al. 2006. Greater sage-grouse comprehensive conservation strategy. Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. Unpublished report. Cheyenne, Wyoming.
“The overall goal of the Greater sage-grouse Comprehensive Conservation Strategy is to maintain and enhance populations and distribution of sage-grouse by protecting and improving sagebrush habitats and ecosystems that sustain these populations.”
- Page with links to the Colorado Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Plan from January 2008
- Brochure from the US Department of Agriulture, Natural Resources conservation Service entitled “Improving Sage Grouse Habitat through Revegetation and Rangeland Management”
- A link to eight “BLM State Fact Sheets” regarding sage-grouse conservation strategies in the northern and western states where the sage-grouse is found. BLM = Bureau of Land Management, part of the US Department of the Interior.
- US Fish & Wildlife Service. 2011. Fact Sheet: “Greater sage-grouse”
The greater sage-grouse is listed as a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act, although it hasn’t yet been listed as endangered.
- US Fish & Wildlife Service. Greater Sage-grouse: 12-month finding.
Powerpoint presentation explaining the results of the US Fish & Wildlife service research into determining whether to designate the greater sage-grouse as an endangered species.
- US Geological Survey. 2009. Scientific Information for Greater Sage-Grouse and Sagebrush Habitats.
An overview of the findings published in the 2009 monograph for Studies in Avian Biology, managed by the Cooper Ornithological Society.
- US Geological Survey, 2009. Greater Sage-Grouse: A Landscape Species and its Habitat
An overview of the findings published in the 2009 monograph of the same title for Studies in Avian Biology, managed by the Cooper Ornithological Society.
- Connelly, J, M. Schoeder, A. Sands, & C. Braun. 2000. Guidelines to manage sage grouse populations and their habitats. From US Geological Survey, Habitat & Management series. Wildlife Society Bulletin 2000, 28(4): 967-985.
Reviews the scientific data regarding current stat of sage-grouse (as of 2000), and makes recommendations for states and provinces regarding methods of managing current populations and habitats.
- Western Governors’ Association. 2004. Conserving the Greater Sage Grouse: Examples of partnerships and strategies at work across the west. Western Governors’ Association and USDA – natural Resources Conservation Service.
