Sage grouse recovery still getting mixed reviews, especially in Utah

WILDLIFE — We can get to work on adjustments to keep this country hospitable to all native species, including us, or we can dig our heads deeper into the sand.

Outdoor writer Brett Prettyman of the Salt Lake Tribune takes a look at where both inclinations meet in Utah:

Threat of listing may be enough to save sage grouse
The threat of listing of sage grouse for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act motivated the raising of $424 million for restoration efforts since 2010 and protected 4.4 million acres of sage grouse habitat in the 11 Western states where the species is found.

Meanwhile, Utah’s federal and state lawmakers continue to work for a political blockade to listing, with U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop adding an amendment to a Defense bill last week that would bar the listing of the species for a decade. State legislators have set aside $1 million for the state attorney general to fight such a listing.