Wyoming has introduced a new specialized tool designed to analyze annual greater sage grouse lek activity, which is expected to assist the Game and Fish Department revealing struggling populations. Once the populations are identified, the department will build adaptive management strategies based on issues on the ground.

The tool is called SCOUT, an acronym for Sage-grouse Cluster Ordering by Unified Trend. Game and Fish employees work annually to analyze sage grouse population metrics throughout the state. Working alongside partners, the department monitors about 90% of occupied sage grouse leks, which are found throughout most of Wyoming. Data gathered through SCOUT will add to existing historic data, allowing the department to assess current population trends at a statewide and local level.

When coupled with historic data, SCOUT allows department officials to identify sage grouse population clusters that are performing better or worse than others. The population analysis can help prioritize portions of the state where opportunities for management changes may be identified, said Deputy Chief of Wildlife Justin Binfet.

“SCOUT provides an important tool in our toolbox for identifying sage grouse population concerns at a local level,” he said. “It will help Wyoming continue to prioritize management actions where they're needed most.”

The tool will become an important part of the department's conservation strategy for the iconic western bird species, a keystone species in sagebrush steppe, said Binfet, who has been with the department for 23 years.

"There's been some real challenges with sage grouse habitats in various parts of the state, because of landscape conversion, invasive annual grasses and, in places, wildfire," Binfet told the Tribune during a Wednesday morning interview. "Just for example, some of those wildfires in 2024 in Sheridan, Johnson and Campbell counties took out some of the best sage grouse habitat in all of northeast Wyoming. And just last year, wildfires in the Big Horn Basin took out some really good sage grouse habitat."

Invasive plant species, like cheatgrass, development and increased predation are also issues the department faces. The department works alongside federal public land managers and within Gov. Mark Gordon's executive order for sage grouse. At the localized area where sub-populations of sage grouse are performing poorly, that will then invoke a series of review and potentially management actions to try to address the causal factors in those localized sage grouse declines.

"Some sage grouse populations and their habitats are really struggling. But as a whole, sage grouse in Wyoming and their habitats are not imperiled," Binfet said.

Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce emphasized that SCOUT also will provide an important tool in continuing to monitor sage grouse, and identify where the department can provide accurate insights for management.

“Identifying where we can optimize management opportunities will allow the State of Wyoming to prioritize strategies through targeted habitat treatments or other land-use policy decisions within these areas," Bruce said.

The new tool was unveiled at the Wednesday Sage Grouse Implementation Team meeting in Casper. The team is comprised of representatives from state and federal agencies, industry, and nongovernmental organizations. Gordon appointed the team members, and they work collaboratively to protect the species under the State of Wyoming's Sage Grouse Executive Order (2019-3).

Sage grouse are now on leks doing their unique mating dances and fighting for dominance. The Game and Fish Department offers directions to leks for wildlife viewing and has a wealth of information about the species.

For more information: wgfd.wyo.gov/wyoming-wildlife/sage-grouse-management/sage-grouse-lek-viewing-guide