News – Sheridan Media
According to Wyoming Game and Fish Department counts, sage-grouse lek attendance rose 11% this spring. Officials attribute the increase to natural population cycles and timely spring moisture that benefited sagebrush habitat.
The department reports observers recorded an average of 31 male sage-grouse per active lek, with more than 30,000 males seen on 86% of known, occupied leks. Annual observations are conducted by Game and Fish staff, partners, consultants, and volunteers.
“Sage-grouse are a sagebrush obligate species and could not survive without intact ecosystems,” Game and Fish Biologist Nyssa Whitford said. “Well-timed moisture and available habitat are paramount to robust sage-grouse populations.”
Whitford noted that despite strong spring conditions, Wyoming’s dry, hot summer and historic trends could mean lower lek attendance next year. Populations typically cycle every seven to nine years, and officials believe counts are near a peak.
Roughly 80% of Wyoming’s known leks remain active, a figure that has stayed steady over time. Game and Fish manages sage-grouse with a conservative hunting season, which includes annual public review and a required free permit for licensed hunters.
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Last modified: September 13, 2025