Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Idaho
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Idaho Project


Effects of spring cattle grazing on demographic traits of greater sage-grouse

January 2014 - December 2024


Personnel

Participating Agencies

  • The Bureau of Land Management
  • Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
  • Idaho Department of Fish & Game
  • US Geological Survey
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service
  • USDI Bureau Of Land Management
  • USDI Bureau Of Land Management(USBLM)
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • ISBOE Working landscapes Research
  • Idaho Department of Fish and Game

The greater sage-grouse was once widespread within sagebrush-grassland ecosystems of western North America, but populations declined substantially during the 20th century. Given the ubiquity of livestock grazing within sage-grouse habitat and the lack of rigorous scientific data to inform the debate regarding the effects of grazing on sage-grouse populations, we are conducting a 10-year research project to experimentally evaluate the effects of cattle grazing on demographic traits and habitat characteristics of greater sage-grouse. The project is a collaboration between USGS Idaho Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, University of Idaho, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public Lands Council, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The results will help guide management actions (and inform policy and litigation decisions) throughout the western United States.

Theses and Dissertations Publication Date
Riley, I. 2019. Sampling methods for lek and brood counts of greater sage-grouse: accounting for imperfect detection. M.S. Thesis, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. May 2019. May 2019
Helmstetter, N.A. 2023. Effects of Livestock Grazing and Habitat on Predator-Specific Nest Mortality and Spatiotemporal Activity Patterns of Sage-Grouse Nest Predators. M.S. Thesis, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. Aug 2023. August 2023