Gunnison Sage Grouse are closely related to Greater Sage Grouse, but their range is smaller and more fragmented. The species’ numbers have been falling in the last decade, forcing wildlife managers to step in to save the bird.
Scott Gibson is a wildlife conservation biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. He works with the only known population of Gunnison Sage Grouse in Utah.
“We used to treat them as the same species as Greater Sage Grouse," he said. "I think some of the biologists had a pretty good sense in that area at the time that there was something different about the grouse. They were smaller, there were some patterning differences, but they were still kind of treated as the same species as the Greater Sage Grouse.
"Then in 2000, there was some analysis that was done by some researchers and it was determined that they actually were considered to be a separate species. So we were documenting some pretty steep declines. In 2014 is when the species was officially listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as federally threatened.”
And here’s Kathy Griffin, the grouse program manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. She says there are currently six populations in Colorado.
“Gunnison Sage Grouse are found almost exclusively in the state of Colorado," she said. "The population in Utah, we think used to be connected. There used to be movement between those two populations, but over more recently we have not had any known recent movement from the birds in Colorado to Utah or vice versa.”
And back in Utah, Gibson says the state’s Gunnison Grouse Population has always been small but recently has been shrinking. Now it is at risk of blinking out completely.
“We don’t know for sure, but at the peak between 100 and 120 birds would probably be near the peak of the Monticello population," he said. "Now the numbers would probably be closer to 20 to 30 birds.
The situation is dire, but Gibson hasn’t given up on the Utah population, he’s going to keep fighting to protect the species.
“Knowing that we are doing a good job caring for the habitat that these birds exist in should be a source of pride, I think.”
