FWP Seeking Comment for Draft EA on Sage Grouse Translocation

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) have developed a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed action of translocating up to 40 sage grouse biennially between 2016–2020, from Montana to Alberta, totaling up to 120 sage grouse over the five-year period.

In Canada, sage grouse are classified as an endangered species, and Canadian wildlife officials say sage grouse numbers in southeastern Alberta have declined about 80 percent since 1970. The proposed translocation is intended to counter further population losses or extirpation of the Alberta sub-population in an area where habitat conditions are improving due to habitat restoration efforts and decreasing oil and gas activity in the area.

According to FWP Region 6 Supervisor Mark Sullivan, the Montana sage grouse would be captured in various locations in southern Phillips and Valley counties and then moved to suitable silver sage brush habitat in southeast Alberta where the native birds are still found.

AEP is requesting up to 40 sage grouse per year from Montana in 2016, 2018 and 2020 to be translocated. All captured and released birds would be fitted with GPS radios, allowing Canadian biologists to follow the birds and determine their survival and reproductive success.

This translocation proposal follows the same framework as translocations from Montana to Alberta in 2011 and 2012. During these years, 41 sage grouse (38 females and three males) were captured in southern Phillips and Valley counties and released on active leks in Alberta. These birds provided a substantial contribution to the Alberta population, and the AEP believes that these initial translocations staved off the possible extirpation of sage grouse.

In 2015, during lek monitoring, Alberta recorded the first significant increase in the resident sage grouse population in approximately 20 years. The initial translocation also provided abundant information to direct management practices to increase the resident population and to ensure greater success from subsequent translocations.

Sullivan said the Canadian birds are often closely associated with the northern Montana sage grouse. Sullivan added that information gained from this action would also be useful in other areas where translocation may be considered.

Surveys show 202 known sage grouse leks just in FWP Region 6 alone, with 142 leks occurring in southern Phillips and Valley counties. Sage grouse populations are monitored by counting male sage grouse on leks. There has been an average of 20.2 male sage grouse observed per lek over the past 5 years. Additionally, 16 sage grouse leks have been routinely monitored the last 10 years and average 36 males per lek.

“Sage grouse numbers in northern Montana have been stable in core habitats, and we are confident that the proposed translocation of these birds to Alberta will not harm the population here,” Sullivan said. Based on minimum sage grouse population estimates in northern Montana, the proposed translocation would remove less than 1 percent of the spring sage grouse population.

The Draft EA was released for public review and comment on Nov. 12. The comment period remained open until Dec. 11. The commission will take final action on this proposal at its Jan. 14, 2016 meeting.

The Draft EA will be available online at: fwp.mt.gov . Go to “Submit Public Comments” on the right side of the home page, go to “Fish and Wildlife”, and find the link “Species Removal and Relocation”. Printed versions of the document can be obtained by contacting the Region 6 office at 406-228-3700. Written comments can be mailed to: Sage Grouse Comments, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 1 Airport Road, Glasgow, MT 59230, or emailed to [email protected].