[Birdtalk] West Nile and Greater Sage Grouse

[John CAVITT]

FYI

WEST NILE: SAGE GROUSE CONCERNS CONTINUE - Research on Greater Sage
Grouse in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming by Dave Naugle
at the University of Montana confirms that West Nile virus has again
killed radio marked sage grouse for the fourth year in a row. Naugle and
his colleagues at the North American Grouse Partnership have passed on
this disturbing information. In 2003, about 25 percent of the radio
marked sage grouse in the Powder River Basin died from West Nile virus.
That number dropped to 10 percent in 2004 and 2 percent in 2005 in
response to cool summer temperatures. However, there is confirmation of
significantly increased mortality this year now that hot weather has
returned to the West. This suggests that West Nile virus mortality may
be an endemic source of mortality to Greater Sage Grouse, a factor that
will need to be considered in ongoing conservation planning. Similar
events with high rates of mortality are being reported in Oregon and
Idaho. Another month must pass for researchers to understand the full
extent of mortality from this exotic disease. 

Cheers
JFC



John F. Cavitt PhD, Director
Office of Undergraduate Research
Associate Professor

Mailing Address
Dept. of Zoology
Weber State University
2505 University Circle
Ogden, UT 84408-2505

(801) 626-6172
(801) 626-8541
Avian Ecology Lab 
(801) 626-8634
cell:(801) 791-4438
FAX: (801) 626-7445
homepage: http://faculty.weber.edu/jcavitt
http://departments.weber.edu/avianecologylab





"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability,
and
beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise."


Aldo Leopold