About Us >

Contact: Brian Rutledge, (307) 745-4848
Alison Holloran, (307) 760-9105

WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON CREATION OF PRIVATE SAGE GROUSE FARMS
AUDUBON OPPOSES PROPOSAL, GROUSE FARM LEGISLATION IGNORES CURRENT SCIENCIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERT OPINION

July 14, 2008—The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is holding public meetings across the state this week to gather information on a legislative proposal that would call for the creation of private bird farms in the state to raise sage grouse for release. The agency has drafted new regulations (Chapter 60) in accordance to a legislative proposal of the Wyoming State Legislature (2008 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 48/40) and will be taking public comment on the proposal through August 8.

To date, there has been little to no success in raising prairie or forest grouse species even though this work has occurred in professional zoo captive rearing programs, such as the Houston Zoo’s Attwater’s prairie chick program. Robert McLean of USDA/APHIS presented results of their captive rearing program at the Coal Bed Natural Gas Fair in Gillette this summer and stated that they failed to produce any surviving chicks. Hannah Bailey, expert in grouse husbandry at the Houston Zoo states, “Much is unknown about captive husbandry for grouse. The learning curve will come at a high price, ‘high mortality’, before meaningful captive breeding success can be achieved.” The Wildlife Conservation Society, a leading expert in animal husbandry techniques for all wildlife, believes that it will take at least three to six years to even develop protocols required to ensure a successful program.

The hearings will be held on July 15th in Green River, Jackson, Laramie and Sheridan, on July 16th in Cody, Lander and Pinedale and on July 17th in Casper. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will receive public comments through August 8th on this proposal. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will take it up for consideration at a hearing in Casper on September 11-12. (For details on the hearings, please go to the Game and Fish Department’s website at http://gf.state.wy.us).

“We strongly oppose the creation of sage grouse farms as outlined because current research and expert opinions have demonstrated that the animal husbandry techniques are not in place to implement this program. We urge citizens to attend these upcoming hearings and voice their concerns,” states Brian Rutledge, Executive Director of Audubon Wyoming. “Whether you are a birding enthusiast, a hunter or an outdoor recreationist, this is an important issue that impacts our common natural heritage.”

For a copy of Audubon Wyoming’s fact sheet on the proposal please contact
Mac Blewer at (307) 745-4848 or at by email.

# # #

Audubon Wyoming Vision
Open spaces rich in birds and other wildlife, and citizens who value that richness.