As you may be aware, the federal land and western state game agencies have, within the past year, gone into a state of high alert regarding the sage grouse. This is due to the potential of this species being petitioned for listing under the ESA to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As far as how we are locally approaching this condition, I will say that activities involving the general public and their desire to view the birds is good. But, every care should be taken by the public when they go to a lek to insure they do not compromise the behavior of sage grouse while they are going through lek activities. This is very important.
Sage grouse are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment.
Things that happen to them on a daily basis can quickly become cumulative and potentially detrimental, particularly at leks.