Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article erroneously stated that the designation of “Priority Habitat Management Areas with limited restrictions” would be eliminated. The language in paragraph two has been updated with the correct designation.
WYOMING — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seeks input on its proposed plan for managing greater sage-grouse habitat on public lands across eight Western states: California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. The comment period on the plan is now open until Friday, Oct. 3.
“In the proposed changes to the Greater Sage-grouse Rangewide Planning amendments, the BLM has recommended removing its designation for “Priority Habitat Management Areas (PHMA) with limited exceptions.” These areas would continue to be managed as “Priority Habitat Management Areas,” which allow for leasing, expansion and management of wind, solar, transmission and mineral development but would be subject to certain conditions, restrictions and stipulations to avoid negative impacts to grouse.
According to the BLM, the proposed amendments would “ensure responsible habitat stewardship while making more public land available for energy development and mining to support President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order, ‘Unleashing American Energy.'” In January, Governor Mark Gordon also shared his priority to “roll back poor decisions made by the Biden administration,” including the greater sage-grouse Record of Decision (ROD), in order to increase mineral extraction in the state.
The BLM wrote via press release that the proposed changes to the sage-grouse plan incorporated key research, including new information about how sage-grouse respond to drought and disturbance.
According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), sage-grouse lek counts increased this past spring. During mating season, male sage-grouse perform an elaborate sunrise display on communal breeding grounds known as leks. In 2025, lek attendance increased by 11% compared to last year. Leks are observed from a distance from both the ground and air during their spring mating.
The appearance of more birds at leks is thought to be due to the natural population cycles of sage-grouse combined with good moisture that benefited sagebrush habitat, per the WGFD.
“Sage-grouse are a sagebrush obligate species and could not survive without intact ecosystems,” WGFD Sage-Grouse/Sagebrush Biologist Nyssa Whitford said. “Well-timed moisture and available habitat are paramount to robust sage-grouse populations. While the spring and early summer received well-timed moisture, this summer was dry and hot across much of Wyoming. Given the dry summer combined with historic population trends, there is potential that we may see lower lek attendance next year.”
WGFD data on sage-grouse lek attendance goes back nearly six decades, and the cause of these “well-established cycles” is thought to be influenced by weather and climate, which impacts the availability of food and cover in the sagebrush ecosystem.
“Sage-grouse populations rise and fall,” Whitford said. “Studies indicate Wyoming’s population cycles every seven to nine years. So, we were pleased to see an increase this year and anticipate we are at or near the peak of the cycle, and expect to enter the downward portion of the cycle in the next year or two.”
Additional information on the proposed sage-grouse management plan is available at the BLM National NEPA Register, where comments can be submitted through the “Participate Now” option. Comments can also be mailed to: BLM Anchorage District Office, Attn: Stephanie Rice, 4700 BLM Rd, Anchorage, AK 99507.
