Ranchers in the arid Northwest are putting a big priority on saving the greater sage grouse from extinction while keeping it off the list of wildlife protected under the Endangered Species Listing.
Considering this chicken-sized bird's range covers 11 states in the West, that's a concern that extends well beyond Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Dan Boyce from the public media collaborative Inside Energy teamed up with photographer Alex Milan Tracy to produce to understand what's at stake not just for ranchers and conservationists, but also for the natural gas industry in places like Wyoming:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must complete a review by Sept. 30 to determine whether to pursue environmental protections under the Endangered Species Act for sage grouse and their habitat. Find more stories on sage grouse from Inside Energy and EarthFix.