Comment period re-opened for sage grouse

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has re-opened the public comment period until midnight Sept. 4 on whether to list the sage grouse as a threatened species.

A spokesman said the comment period will focus on the population segment of greater sage grouse along the California-Nevada border. It includes a special rule that would “provide increased flexibility for land management practices that are intended to benefit the sage grouse.”

The spokesman said the decision was made because the Forest Service recently received new information about the bird’s population.

Detailed information can be found at www.fws.gov/nevada or through the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office at 775-861-6300.

The government plans to make a final decision on whether to list the bird as threatened by April 28, 2015.