Sharp-tailed Grouse Stewardship Program

Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse were once thought to be the most abundant grouse in the continental northwest. Today they occupy less than 10 percent of their former range. Numerous factors have contributed to the decline of the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. Foremost is the loss and degradation of their grassland habitat due to conversion of native grasslands to croplands, certain grazing practices, land development, invasion of non-native plants, forest encroachment, and damage to upland shrub and riparian areas. The Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse distribution in Canada is restricted to BC and thus we have a strong responsibility to ensure its continued existence in BC.

The Sharp-tailed Grouse Stewardship Program was initiated in April 2002 in an attempt to maintain and increase the viability of Sharp-tailed Grouse in BC’s grassland habitats.  More than 70 percent of BC's grasslands are privately owned, therefore the success of this program relies on the commitment, cooperation and coordination of private landowners, land users, and public agencies to protect and manage habitats for Sharp-tailed Grouse.  The program will use research, education, stewardship, and habitat enhancement and restoration techniques as tools to recover sharptail populations in BC’s grasslands.

Key objectives of the program:

•  Identify, protect, and enhance historical and existing sharptail habitat.
• Improve the base knowledge on the status and distribution of Sharp-tailed Grouse and their habitats
• Initiate extension/communication programs to increase Sharp-tailed Grouse awareness and their habitat requirements among landowners and the public.

How will we achieve these objectives?

•  Establish working relationships with landowners and public agencies.
• Enhance Sharp-tailed Grouse populations and habitat.
• Create demonstration/restoration sites.
• Deliver extension/communication programs. These include presentations, media releases, and a comprehensive stewardship manual that outlines “best management” practices that benefit sharptails and other grassland species.

The implementation of this stewardship program would not be possible without funding from the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, and the cooperation of landowners and support from the following organizations: