The Sage Grouse Protection and Conservation Act has been introduced in the U.S. House. It would prohibit the federal government from listing sage grouse under the Endangered Species. That’s as long as states prepare and carryout plans to protect the species within its borders. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott Vanderwal says the measure makes sense because it leaves it up to state’s to control the problem.
Approximately 76 percent of all listed species occur to some extent on privately owned lands and more than one third exclusively on privately owned lands. Vanderwal says the feds don’t have an efficient or effective way of adding endangered species and oftentimes end up taking over control of private land in order to push their agenda.
The problem with the sage grouse is that its range is vast, meaning wildlife management and conservation efforts would vary widely from state to state.