Mapping Sage-Grouse Fence-Collision Risk: Spatially Explicit Models for Targeting Conservation Implementation

• Published in: Wildlife Society bulletin (2011) Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 409 - 415
• Main Authors: Bryan S. Stevens, David E. Naugle, Brian Dennis, John W. Connelly, Tim Griffiths, Kerry P. Reese
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wildlife Society 01-06-2013
• Subjects: Conservation biology; Fences; Grouse; Habitat conservation; Modeling; Mortality; Pixels; Spatial models; Tools and Technology; Wildlife conservation; Wildlife management
• ISSN: 2328-5540

Recent research suggested greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus;hereafter, sage-grouse) fence collision may be widespread, and fence-marking methods have been developed for reducing prairie-grouse collision in sagebrush-steppe habitats. However, research also suggested sage-grouse collision was highly variable, and managers implementing mitigation desire targeting tools to prioritize mitigation efforts as a function of risk. We fit collision-risk models using widely available covariates to a sage-grouse fence-collision data set from Idaho, USA, and developed spatially explicit versions of the top model for all known sage-grouse breeding habitats (i.e., within 3 km of leks) in 10 of 11 western states where sage-grouse are found. Our models prioritize breeding habitats for mitigation as a function of terrain ruggedness and distance to nearest lek, and suggest that a relatively small proportion of the total landscape (6–14%) in each state would result in >1 collision over a lekking season. Managers can use resulting models to prioritize fence-marking by focusing efforts on high risk landscapes. Moreover, our models provide a spatially explicit tool to efficiently target conservation investments, and exemplify the way that researchers and managers can work together to turn scientific understanding into effective conservation solutions.