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January 30, 2015 CapitalPress.com 3 Research breakthrough aids sage grouse Bryan Stevens finds putting markers on fences decreases birds’ mortality By JOHN O’CONNELL Capital Press Photos courtesy of Bryan Stevens Bryan Stevens sits at an overlook of Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir in Twin Falls County. Stevens hiked throughout Idaho studying sage grouse collisions with livestock fencing and learned birds can be protected by placing tags on fences. Western Innovator Bryan Stevens Age: 31 Family: Wife, Char Hometown: Originally from Shelby, Ohio Occupation: Research assistant at Michigan State University and certified wildlife biologist Education: Bachelor’s degree in wildlife resources and master’s degree in wildlife biology and statistics, University of Idaho; pursu- ing a doctorate in wildlife, Michigan State University agement plans to benefit the bird on public grazing allot- ments. “He wasn’t just doing sci- ence. He was doing science and also had the ability to see the application and how it could be used,” Naugle said. Stevens’ UI master’s degree advisor, Kerry Reese, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologist Jack Connelly were troubled by discoveries of dead sage grouse near fencing and saw a need to study the issue. “I think we were surprised at how many birds flew into fences. We didn’t have any idea of the magnitude of it,” Reese said. They hypothesized mark- ers would be effective based on prairie chicken research in Oklahoma. Stevens started work in the summer of 2008, hiring tech- nicians to help him walk hun- dreds of miles of fence lines in sage grouse habitat in southeast and southcentral Idaho. He discovered the vast majority of collisions occurred within 0.6 mile of a lek, and seldom were strikes found beyond 1.2 miles. Furthermore, birds were far more likely to strike fencing on flat terrain, where they tend to fly closer to the ground, than in hilly areas. Based on those discoveries, he estimated 6-14 percent of sage grouse habitat lies within a high-risk area. In his second year of field work, he tested the use of mark- ers to make fencing more visible and found they reduced sage grouse collisions by 83 percent. “A relatively small propor- tion of the overall landscape seemed to be high risk,” said Stevens, who is now research- ing wild turkeys for a Ph.D. project at Michigan State Uni- versity. “Maybe a targeted in- vestment could be effective at eliminating the problem.” Production of his tags has A tag designed by Bryan Stevens marks a barbed-wire fence to protect sage grouse from collisions. also provided work for sev- en employees with mental or physical disabilities at the COR Enterprises wood shop in Bill- ings, Mont. Woodshop manag- er Tony Braunstadter said his workers have cut more than 100,000 sage grouse markers from vinyl siding during the past few years. ALFALFA GRASS FARM Parma, Idaho. Pivot and some hand lines for irrigation, 55.52 Acres with 49 acres of Black Canyon water rights. Very comfortable 2007 home, 1,920 sq. ft., 4 bdrm, 2 bath, central air, wood stove, detached garage, corral, RV parking, shop. $584,000 Dan Coleman, GRI (541) 212-1984 IDIN15-2/#17 MOSCOW, Idaho — Nat- ural Resources Conservation Service officials in 11 Western states are well versed in Bryan Stevens’ research, which they routinely use to help ranchers protect sage grouse populations on private range. Stevens, 31, conducted the first scientific study document- ing sage grouse mortality due to collisions with livestock fenc- ing for his University of Idaho master’s thesis in wildlife biol- ogy. He also identified a simple method to protect the native birds — placing vinyl markers covered with reflective tape ev- ery 3 feet along fences in high- risk areas. Leaders with the NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative found Stevens’ work so useful they covered his tuition for a second UI master’s degree in statistics. NRCS provided Stevens data from several Western states on known sage grouse leks — ar- eas where males perform elabo- rate mating dances and females stay to nest — which he used to create color-coded maps quanti- fying the risk posed by fencing. In 2013, Stevens said NRCS, working with willing landown- ers to help avert an endangered species listing, used his maps to remove or mark more than 500 miles of fencing in high-risk sage grouse habitat. Dave Naugle, a University of Montana wildlife biology professor and SGI’s national science advisor, said the tool should also play a role in man- www.dancolemanrealestate.com dan@dancolemanrealestate.com HARDY from Page 1 Hardy was elected president of the NPC, a grower-funded organization that works to pro- tect growers’ best interests. He has also served in several oth- er leadership roles, including chairman of the U.S. Potato Board, whose mission is to pro- mote potato consumption. “I heard a long time ago the world is run by those who show up,” he said. The two organizations are “absolutely” important for po- tato growers and the industry, he said. With their help, U.S. potato exports have grown from 10 percent of production in 2000 to 17 percent today, and there’s plenty of potential for more growth, he said. That takes not only pro- motion but work in the reg- ulatory and trade arenas as well, and the latter is where NPC comes in. With a staff and presence in Washington, D.C., NPC is able to respond quickly to any legis- lative, regulatory or trade issues that arise, he said. “Those who don’t have a voice are going to be controlled by those who want to control them,” he said. NPC has the clout to oper- ate within Capitol Hill circles and get things accomplished, he said. “The grower sitting back here at home has no voice in that, but through the Council they do,” he said. NPC was successful in keep- ing potatoes in the school lunch program, derailing an effort to limit potatoes to one serving a week. It continued to work on getting white potatoes approved for the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program and H ANSON A UCTION to gain access to all of Mexico for U.S. fresh potatoes, he said. Gaining more access to Mexico, with its 100 million people, was important, especial- ly for Idaho, he said. Through NPC, the potato in- dustry is well positioned to have an impact on agricultural policy, but more growers need to be in- volved. Agriculture as a whole needs to be more involved, he said. “We have a positive story to tell, and we better start telling it,” he said. As the ag and rural popula- tion wanes, so does agriculture’s political voice, he said. “If we have issues, legisla- tion or regulation, we better be speaking up because no one else is going to,” he said. He encourages growers to stay abreast of the issues, voice their support for their industry, and be proactive with the public. While grower presence at the national level is important, growers at home can also be involved through petitions to Congress available on NPC’s website, donations to the organi- zations fighting on their behalf, writing blogs and editorials, hosting tours of their farm or speaking to grocery retailers, consumers and neighbors, he said. The future for U.S. potatoes is bright, especially where ex- ports are concerned. IDIN15-5/#17 NPC has clout to operate within Capitol Hill circles METAL BUILDINGS BUY FACTORY DIRECT Equipment Storage • Hay Shed • Shop Barn • Arena • Dairy Shade Roofing, Siding & Trim 614 West 4th Street, Emmett, ID 83617 © B. Selyem © B. 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