The BLM seeks public input on weaker sage grouse rules, sparking opposition over conservation risks.

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public feedback on revised sage grouse protections, aiming to tailor conservation to local conditions using updated science. Wyoming emphasizes its state-led 2019 conservation efforts as effective without federal mandates, while Montana secured a $1.2 million easement to protect 4,417 acres, part of a broader program conserving over 132,000 acres. Environmental groups oppose the BLM’s proposed changes, citing weakened safeguards and loss of key monitoring tools, warning of risks to sage grouse populations amid ongoing declines.