BLM-(MT), Sage Grouse Habitat Delineation

Background: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Billings Field Office approved Resource Management Plan outlines a number of actions to conserve Greater sage-grouse (GRSG) habitat to protect GRSG populations and other species that rely on sage brush habitat in the Planning Area. The proposed project area falls within designated GRSG Priority Habitat Management Areas (PHMA). GRSG have seasonal habitat requirements necessary for successfully completing life cycle, such as breeding and nesting habitat, brood rearing habitat, summer forage and winter habitats. Using telemetry or satellite technology to monitor GRSG locations help land managers identify these important habitats and concentrate conservation actions accordingly to conserve or enhance the habitat value, benefitting GRSG and a host of other species with similar habitat requirements in sage brush ecosystems.Objectives: The primary purpose of this partnership is to to improve understanding of GRSG populations, migration patterns, and identify important habitat use areas within Billings Field Office lands in Carbon County Montana. The development of important seasonal habitat use areas helps land managers make appropriate decisions regarding land use while conserving important habitats, particularly with sensitive species such as GRSG. It also allows other researchers to develop new projects to further the knowledge of wildlife and rangeland management.Specific objectives include, but are not limited to: 1) Determine the number of grouse and leks and fit them with tracking devices. 2) Monitoring the birdsâ¿¿ movements to develop important seasonal habitats. 3) Develop GIS shapefiles and statistical analysis supporting habitat delineation. 4) Complete summary reports and make them available to interested parties, including land managers and other researchers.Public Benefit: This project will help inform future management decisions in sage brush ecosystems that will benefit a wide range of wildlife species, including GRSG, that reside on public lands within Billings Field Office in Carbon County Montana.