Proposed parcels removed from upcoming oil and gas lease sale to protect sage grouse

WYOMING — The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) removed nearly half of the proposed parcels from an upcoming Wyoming oil and gas lease sale to protect greater sage grouse habitat. According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), habitat is key to the sustainability of sage grouse populations. Jackson Hole is a prime location for sage grouse leks, or crucial open areas where they perform their iconic mating dance. However, sage grouse were delisted from the Endangered Species Act in 2015 and WGFD sage grouse population counts have been significantly down since then. Despite that, an executive order…