Sage-Grouse Project

The Greater Sage-Grouse is an iconic symbol and an obligate species, relying on the sagebrush habitat that blankets the valley floor of Jackson Hole. The Jackson Hole population is both small and genetically isolated, and will be dependent on careful management if the population is to remain viable. Their biggest threat is loss of habitat, both locally and throughout their western range. For a three-year period, 2007-2009, Sage Grouse were marked and tracked to accomplish the demographic and habitat objectives of the study. The objectives were to improve grouse population parameter estimates through baseline field research, identify important seasonal habitat use patterns, document nest productivity and brood survival. Marked birds allow for estimation of adult survival, causes of mortality, and inter-lek movements. We are continuing this project through several Master’s thesis programs, building on our existing datasets. We are using genetic samples previously collected to determine the genetic uniqueness of the Jackson Hole and Gros Ventre populations. We are also analyzing movement data to create habitat suitability models and identifying source/sink areas for this local population.

Publications and Data

Ravens, Grouse and People: Setting a Framework for Solutions Final Report. (2009). Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board, 36.

Sage-Grouse Completion Report: 2007-2009. (2010). Bedrosian, B., Craighead, D., Crandall, R., Ruehmann, M., Slabe, V. CBS.

Common Raven Activity in Relation to Land Use in Western Wyoming: Implications for Greater Sage-Grouse Reproductive Success. (2010). Bui, T. D., Marzluff, J.M., Bedrosian, B. The Condor. 000(0), 1-14.

Critical winter habitat characteristics of greater sage-grouse in a high altitude environment. (2010). Crandall, R. H., Bedrosian, B. E., Craighead, D. J. Northwestern Naturalist.

Interseasonal Movements of Greater Sage-Grouse, Migratory Behavior, and an Assessment of the Core Regions Concept in Wyoming. (2012). Fedy, B. C., Aldridge, C. L., Doherty, K. E., O'Donnell, M. Beck, J. L., Bedrosian, B., Holloran, M. J., Johnson, G. D., Kaczor, N. W., Kirol, C. P, Madich, C. A., Marshal, D., McKee, G., Olson Swanson, C. C., Walker, B. L. The Journal of Wildlife Management.

High resolution mapping of hierarchical Greater Sage-grouse nesting habitat: a grain-spectrum approach in Northwestern Wyoming.  2017. Robert (Trapper) T. Haynam III. Master of Science (Systems Ecology) at The University of Montana.

Low neutral genetic diversity in isolated Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations in northwest Wyoming. (2014). Schulwitz, S., Bedrosian, B., Johnson, J. A. The Condor, 116(4), 560-573.

Habitat prioritization across large landscapes, multiple seasons, and novel areas: An example using greater sage‐grouse in Wyoming. (2014). Fedy, Bradley C., Kevin E. Doherty, Cameron L. Aldridge, Micheal O'Donnell, Jeffrey L. Beck, Bryan Bedrosian, David Gummer et al. Wildlife Monographs, 190(1), 1-39.

Solar Powered GPS Transmitter Use on Sage Grouse: Methods of Attachment, Influences on Survival, and Success Rates of Transmitters. ( ). Craighead, Derek, Bedrosian, Bryan, E. CBS.