Draft Washington State Status Report for the Sage Grouse by Michelle J. Tirhi David W. Hays Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way North Olympia, Washington 98501-1091 October 1997 The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains a list of endangered, threatened and sensitive species (Washington Administrative Codes 232-12-014 and 232-12-011, Appendix C). In 1990, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted listing procedures developed by a group of citizens, interest groups, and state and federal agencies (Washington Administrative Code 232-12-297, Appendix C). The procedures include how species listing will be initiated, criteria for listing and de-listing, public review and recovery and management of listed species. The first step in the process is to develop a preliminary species status report. The report includes a review of information relevant to the species’ status in Washington and addresses factors affecting its status including, but not limited to: historic, current, and future species population trends, natural history including ecological relationships, historic and current habitat trends, population demographics and their relationship to long term sustainability, and historic and current species management activities. The procedures then provide for a 90-day public review opportunity for interested parties to submit new scientific data relevant to the status report, classification recommendation, and any State Environmental Policy Act findings. During the 90-day review period, the Department holds statewide public meetings to answer questions and take comments. At the close of the comment period, the Department completes the Final Status Report and Listing Recommendation for presentation to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Final Report and Recommendation are then released 30 days prior to the Commission presentation for public review. This is a Draft Status Report for the Sage Grouse. Submit written comments on this report by January 23, 1998 to: Endangered Species Program Manager, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091. The Department will present the results of this status review to the Fish and Wildlife Commission for action at its April 3-4, 1998 meeting. This report should be cited as: Tirhi, M. J., and D. W. Hays. 1997. Washington State status report for the sage grouse. Wash. Dept. Fish and Wildl., Olympia. 62pp. DRAFT: October 1997 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES ............................................ vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................................vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................. viii TAXONOMY ..............................................................1 DESCRIPTION ............................................................1 Plumage and Extremities ................................................1 Measurements ........................................................1 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION ............................................2 North America ........................................................2 Washington ..........................................................3 NATURAL HISTORY .......................................................4 Behavior ............................................................5 Roost .........................................................5 Territoriality and sociality ..........................................5 Sexual behavior .................................................5 Food, Nutrition, and Energetics ...........................................5 Water .........................................................6 Life Span and Mortality Rates ............................................7 Density .............................................................7 Home Range .........................................................8 HABITAT REQUIREMENTS .................................................9 General .............................................................9 Elevation ...........................................................10 Breeding ...........................................................10 Late-Spring, Summer, and Fall ...........................................11 Winter .............................................................12 POPULATION DYNAMICS .................................................12 Reproduction ........................................................12 Age of first breeding .............................................12 Seasons ......................................................13 Fidelity to leks .................................................13 Mating .......................................................13 Nesting .......................................................13 DRAFT: October 1997 iii Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Nesting success ................................................14 Brood-rearing ..................................................14 Juveniles ......................................................14 Mortality ...........................................................15 Predation .....................................................15 Hunting ......................................................15 Weather ......................................................16 Disease .......................................................16 Accidents and pesticides ..........................................16 POPULATION STATUS ....................................................17 Past ...............................................................17 Harvest .......................................................17 Statewide population ............................................19 Regional populations ............................................22 Present .............................................................24 HABITAT STATUS ........................................................25 Past ...............................................................25 Present .............................................................26 CONSERVATION STATUS .................................................29 Legal Status .........................................................29 Management Activities in Washington .....................................29 Management plan ...............................................29 Population monitoring ...........................................29 Habitat restoration/acquisition .....................................30 Research ......................................................30 Coordination and partnership ......................................31 Enforcement ...................................................31 Information and education ........................................31 Habitat protection and enhancement .................................32 FACTORS AFFECTING CONTINUED EXISTENCE ..............................32 Population Isolation ...................................................32 Potential for Continued Population Decline .................................33 Compatibility with Military Training .......................................33 Habitat Security ......................................................34 Relationships with Private Landowners ....................................35 Fire ...............................................................35 Chemical Treatment ...................................................36 Grazing ............................................................37 Harassment and Disturbance ............................................38 DRAFT: October 1997 iv Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Adequacy Of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms ...............................38 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION ...................................38 REFERENCES CITED ......................................................39 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS ............................................52 ACRONYMS .............................................................53 Appendix A. Museum specimens of sage grouse in Washington, 1853-1949 ..............54 Appendix B. Sage grouse lek counts in Washington 1970-1997 .......................55 Appendix C. Washington Administrative Code 232-12-297 ..........................58 DRAFT: October 1997 v Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1. Home range (km2) estimates of sage grouse in Washington and Idaho. ............9 Table 2. Hunting seasons and harvests of sage grouse in Washington, 1950-1987 ..........18 Table 3. Historical and remaining shrub steppe (ha) habitat in Washington counties within the historic range of sage grouse ............................................27 Table 4. Administration and ownership of sage grouse range in Washington ..............28 Table 5. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands (ha) in eastern Washington counties in current sage grouse range through 1996 ....................................29 Figure 1. Historic and current range of the sage grouse in North America. ................2 Figure 2. Historic and current range of the sage grouse in Washington. ...................4 Figure 3. The proportional change in sage grouse numbers estimated from annual lek counts, 1955-1997. .........................................................19 Figure 4. The ratio of males per lek and the number of leks included in counts, 1954-1997. ..20 Figure 5. Male sage grouse counted statewide during