"Fires Turn Sage Brush Habitat In Washington Into A Scorched ‘Oblivion’"

"Wildfires in Washington state have burned hundreds of thousands of acres, including an important mating habitat for sage grouse.

More than half of the fewer than 1,000 birds in the state may have been lost in the fires, according to leading grouse expert Michael Schroeder.

Prospects for the species’ recovery here look grim, given that what little habitat they had was surrounded by fields and towns, leaving them no room for refuge."

Ashley Ahearn reports for Mongabay September 18, 2020.