Sage Grouse Research Paper

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The Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is the largest members of the Phasianoidae family in the United States. The Sage-grouse is a ground-dwelling species living predominantly in Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) step habitat (Connelly et al., 2004). The Sage-grouse is a polygynous species where, one male will breed with multiple females, further, they exhibit a clumped polygyny where Sage-grouse migrate to breeding areas called a “Lek”. The males exhibit several courtship displays during a short period in the spring; inflate two yellow sacs that are quickly deflated making a popping noise, the head is thrown back as air is released, and tails are fanned out. The longevity of Sage-grouse varies by locality with adults living three to six years and annual survival of greater than one offspring per female, surviving to age …show more content…

Sage-grouse are a long-lived, low reproductive rate species where only a portion of the female population nests and breeds each year. The main predators of Sage-grouse are mesopredators like Coyotes (Canis latrans), Bobcats (Lynx rufus), Badgers (Taxidea taxus), Crows and Ravens (Corvus spp.) and Magpies (Pica pica). The state of Wyoming actively manages a robust population of Sage-grouse for sustainability and consumptive take by hunter harvest. Sage-grouse are managed as a consumptive use species that allows for a limited harvest for a two-week period each fall. The hunting period was selected to allow harvest after offspring have reached a self-preserving age where adults can be removed without negatively affecting overall

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