Sage Grouse Mortality

[Larryjk]

I read the annual report by the Predatory Animal organization and research has shown that ravens are respnsible for a high percentage of sage grouse nest destruction. Crows are also included in the mix but the ravens are the real culprits. In Wyoming the crow season is Nov 1 through Feb 28, but you must take into consideration that most people don't want to freeze their tail off to shoot crows. The theory is that the Mexican Ravens (a protected species) migrate south in the winter and there is very little chance of killing them. In the Rawlins area, we have a great population of ravens that have not heard they are supposed to go south. The parking lots around the fast- food resturants are full of them and they are as thick at the landfill as the gulls are in the summer. I think the ravens should be considered as recovered due to the size of the resident flocks.

And to no ones surprise, coyote control results in much higher survival rates for antelope and deer fawns. Only research can prove these conclusions.