Field methods for translocating female greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) with their broods

Mary Beth Meyerpeter; Kade D. Lazenby; Peter S. Coates; Mark A. Ricca; Steven R. Mathews; Scott C. Gardner; David K. Dahlgren; David J. Delehanty

doi:10.1002/wsb.1199

USGS · 70228199

Field methods for translocating female greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) with their broods

Mary Beth Meyerpeter·Kade D. Lazenby·Peter S. Coates·Mark A. Ricca·Steven R. Mathews·Scott C. Gardner·David K. Dahlgren·David J. Delehanty

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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.

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Wildlife Society Bulletin Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 38.07944663265489° to 46.581518465658014° latitude; -119.65347290039062° to -102.12890625° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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BibTeX RIS

Mary Beth Meyerpeter, Kade D. Lazenby, Peter S. Coates, Mark A. Ricca, Steven R. Mathews, Scott C. Gardner, David K. Dahlgren, David J. Delehanty. 2021-08-12. Field methods for translocating female greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) with their broods. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1199

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