Date: September 24, 2004

CONTACT: Jamie Thompson, Public Affairs Officer, (775) 623-1500

HUNTERS ASKED TO HELP WITH SAGE-GROUSE MONITORING

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca Field Office and the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) are asking sage-grouse hunters to watch for transmitters on birds they harvest and return the instruments to BLM. BLM and NDOW placed the radio transmitters on 7 sage-grouse during an NDOW capture August 13-16 in the Montana and Bilk Creek mountain ranges about 50 miles north-northwest of Winnemucca. "We are asking hunters who happen to harvest any of these birds to please return the small transmitters to the Winnemucca BLM Office. They are expensive and unless they're badly damaged, can be reused in further sage-grouse monitoring studies," explains BLM wildlife biologist Ken Detweiler. The transmitters weigh just over a half ounce, are solar powered and are tracked by satellite.

"The sage-grouse is listed on the Nevada BLM Sensitive Species List" adds Detweiler. "The data collected helps us to better understand sage-grouse movements and life cycles. We hope this data can be useful in developing management techniques that will keep the sage-grouse from being added to the list of threatened or endangered species under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended."

The birds fitted with the transmitters also have NDOW metal leg bands keyed to information that was recorded during the capture. "Winnemucca BLM" is written in silver on the transmitters. Hunters who find the transmitters should return them to BLM's Winnemucca Office at 5100 E Winnemucca Blvd, Winnemucca, Nevada 89445-2921. Hunters who live some distance from Winnemucca can call Mr. Detweiler at 775-623-1500 to find out how to return the transmitters. Information about the leg bands will be distributed in the area during the hunting season by NDOW, but hunters who are missed can call Ed Partee at the Nevada Department of Wildlife in Winnemucca at 775-623-6565.
 

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