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“Sage Grouse Blues” (Conservation, Sept/Oct) stated a multitude of reasons for the decline of the sage grouse. However, none of these reasons mentions the sacred “p” word, “p” like in predator.
From July 1989 to June 1991 Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) conducted a survey of sage grouse production and mortality. In one area of the study, fourteen hundred eggs were placed in two hundred simulated sage grouse nests with seven eggs per nest. This was during the 15 day period when sage hens lay their eggs.
The results of this survey are unbelievable. At the completion of the 15 day period, all fourteen hundred eggs were destroyed (100%) in that study area. Ravens were believed to be the chief nest predator. During the 1991 Nevada legislative session, a bill was introduced to do some raven control with aircraft. NDOW did not show up to testify regarding their own survey. After being requested to testify by a legislator, Nevada Department of Wildlife failed to appear to testify in support of raven control.
Somewhere along the line, NDOW and the Wildlife Commission decided this survey was invalid. The reason (hope you are sitting down) was that they marked the nests with flags. The ravens saw the flags and realized these were nests and ate all the eggs! No doubt, NDOW and the Wildlife Commission believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus. Sportsmen in our state don’t blame the hardworking biologists. It is the leadership in NDOW and the Wildlife Commission who don’t have a clue as to what they are doing.
There are two reasons why NDOW and the Wildlife Commission will not acknowledge we have a predator problem. First, if there is a problem, there must be a cure, like work. Secondly, it is not politically correct to kill one species to enhance another. For these reasons, the sportsmen and the sage grouse will be the losers in Nevada for many years to come.
Cecil Fredi
Las Vegas, Nevada
From July 1989 to June 1991 Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) conducted a survey of sage grouse production and mortality. In one area of the study, fourteen hundred eggs were placed in two hundred simulated sage grouse nests with seven eggs per nest. This was during the 15 day period when sage hens lay their eggs.
The results of this survey are unbelievable. At the completion of the 15 day period, all fourteen hundred eggs were destroyed (100%) in that study area. Ravens were believed to be the chief nest predator. During the 1991 Nevada legislative session, a bill was introduced to do some raven control with aircraft. NDOW did not show up to testify regarding their own survey. After being requested to testify by a legislator, Nevada Department of Wildlife failed to appear to testify in support of raven control.
Somewhere along the line, NDOW and the Wildlife Commission decided this survey was invalid. The reason (hope you are sitting down) was that they marked the nests with flags. The ravens saw the flags and realized these were nests and ate all the eggs! No doubt, NDOW and the Wildlife Commission believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus. Sportsmen in our state don’t blame the hardworking biologists. It is the leadership in NDOW and the Wildlife Commission who don’t have a clue as to what they are doing.
There are two reasons why NDOW and the Wildlife Commission will not acknowledge we have a predator problem. First, if there is a problem, there must be a cure, like work. Secondly, it is not politically correct to kill one species to enhance another. For these reasons, the sportsmen and the sage grouse will be the losers in Nevada for many years to come.
Cecil Fredi
Las Vegas, Nevada
Reprinted from Shooting Sportsman
January 2006
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