Field methods for translocating female greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) with their broods
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Abstract
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have experienced considerable range contraction and reduced abundance in response to habitat loss and degradation. Translocation is a conservation action that is often used to reintroduce extirpated populations or augment existing small populations. Translocations have had limited success in restoring viable populations of sage-grouse; a lack of success is attributed to long-distance post-release movements away from release sites, reduced survival, and lack of reproductive success of translocated individuals. Translocating female sage-grouse with their chicks (brood translocation) is a technique aimed at promoting breeding area fidelity and reproduction and may be beneficial to population restoration efforts. Furthermore, the ability to capture, relocate, and release individuals while minimizing translocation-induced loss increases the overall probability of restoration success. Accordingly, we developed a protocol to translocate female sage-grouse and their broods simultaneously, using a delayed-release system that included a custom release box and acclimation pen. We tested our protocol across 2 separate restoration projects in North Dakota and California during 2017–2019 with a total of 38 translocated females and 196 chicks. We successfully released 174/196 chicks (88.8%) from 32/38 (84.2%) broods. Our protocol builds on existing translocation methods used to translocate sage-grouse and will likely prove to be a critical technique in restoring sage-grouse populations.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Field methods for translocating female greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) with their broods |
| Series title | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| DOI | 10.1002/wsb.1199 |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Publication Date | August 12, 2021 |
| Year Published | 2021 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Wildlife Society |
| Contributing office(s) | Western Ecological Research Center |
| Description | 9 p. |
| First page | 529 |
| Last page | 537 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California, North Dakota, Wyoming |
| County | Bowman County, Carbon County, Mono County, Slope County, Sweetwater County |
| Other Geospatial | Parker Meadows |