CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to allocate up to $16 million through two programs to encourage farmers and ranchers in 11 western states to protect sage grouse and its habitat.
The funding announcement comes a week after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the sage grouse deserves federal protection, but won’t be listed because other species were in greater danger.
Landowners can sign up until April 23 with county Natural Resources Conservation Service offices to seek money.
Sage grouse live in the sagebrush in California, Colorado, the Dakotas, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and western Canada.
