Sage Grouse Miseries

Thu., Sept. 23, 1999

From Staff Reports

Wildfires in southern Idaho added to the woes of sage grouse this year, according to Tom Hemker, upland game bird program manager for the Idaho Fish and Game Department.

“The hot wildfires destroyed lots of important habitat for sage grouse,” he said. “Sagebrush was killed by hot fires and most, if not all, the seed was destroyed.”

Flowers and buds of sagebrush are the birds’ only food during the winter months.

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