WildEarth Guardians

Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Group seeks federal protection for grouse

Coalition files suit against the FWS in federal district court in Idaho for failing to determine if the population of Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is dying out
Contact: Caleb Warnock Provo Daily Herald

"Led by New Mexico-based WildEarth Guardians, a coalition of conservation groups in November 2004 petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse under the act. Having the birds listed as federally protected endangered species would force Utah and other states to provide quality habitat for the birds, said Nicole Rosmarino of WildEarth Guardians."

"Conservation groups had petitioned the FWS to list the grouse as an endangered species in 1995, Rosmarino said, but were turned down in 2000 after states made voluntary plans to conserve the animals -- the same year the species became extinct in Montana."

"The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse has now been waiting over a decade to be listed on the Endangered Species Act," Rosmarino said. "Other species have gone extinct while waiting."

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