Is the greater sage grouse the only wildlife dependent upon sagebrush habitats?
No. In fact, the following wildlife species are either partially or entirely dependent upon sagebrush habitat: Pronghorn Antelope (also benefits from grassland habitats), the Sage Thrasher, the Gunnison Sage-Grouse (different species found in Utah and western Colorado), the Pygmy Rabbit, the Sage Sparrow, the Brewer’s Sparrow, Ferruginous hawks, the Loggerhead Shrike, and the White-Tailed Prairie Dog. How will this action affect oil and gas development within the range of the sage grouse? What about wind power development and livestock grazing? As a candidate species, the greater sage-grouse does not have any regulatory protection. We recommend that project proponents wanting to conduct activities in occupied sage-grouse habitat coordinate with the Service and the states to develop projects that are compatible with greater sage-grouse conservation. Oil and gas development and wind power development is not compatible with the species unless done in a strategic way where key habitats are
