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ODFW and OSU present new tracking research, status of sage grouse in Deschutes County
Summary
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State University researchers briefed the county on recent sage grouse monitoring in Deschutes County, reporting differing demographic trends in two adjacent populations (Brothers Pack and Paulina Pack) and outlining habitat threats and management recommendations.
State and university researchers told the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on June 25 that sage grouse in Deschutes County remain a conservation priority but show divergent population trends in adjacent areas.
Skyler Bold, sage grouse conservation coordinator with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), summarized the birds' life history, habitat needs and statewide trends. Bold said sage grouse require intact sagebrush and mesic areas for brooding and that the species has shown long-term declines range-wide. He showed maps of core and low-density habitat and noted Deschutes County contains portions of the Brothers Pack and Paulina Pack.
Dr. Christian Hagen of Oregon State University described a three-year GPS-tracking study of female sage grouse (78 females monitored) that used lightweight GPS transmitters providing five locations per day. The research team tracked nests, broods and adult survival. Key findings presented to the board: - Brothers Pack and Paulina Pack are trending differently: Brothers' population trough was around 2019 and has since rebounded with recent good precipitation; Paulina's trough occurred in 2023 and its trend has been lower. - Nest survival in Brothers was roughly 40% vs. about 28% in Paulina in the study sample; adult annual survival for females in Brothers was about 70% vs. 55% in Paulina (estimates with confidence intervals noted in the presentation). - Some hens and broods made unexpectedly long movements across the landscape, including trips of many kilometers to brood-rearing areas, showing use of habitats that were not anticipated.
Researchers stressed threats to sage grouse habitat, including juniper encroachment, wildfire followed by invasive annual grasses (e.g., cheatgrass), fragmentation from development and increased raven and other predator densities linked to anthropogenic attractants. Bold and Hagen recommended continued juniper treatment in priority areas, invasive-weed control, wildfire prevention and preventing large-scale development in intact habitat.
Commissioners asked about implications for county land-use decisions (for example, siting of a possible new regional landfill) and were advised to consider potential predator-attractant effects (ravens), noise, traffic and other disturbances when evaluating projects near core habitat. County staff and researchers discussed the need to submit the presentation into the record when applicants bring land-use actions affecting habitat.
The board thanked ODFW and OSU for the update and said the presentation would be made available for future land-use review processes.
