2011-12-06 Survey Says: Albertans Extremely Concerned Sage-grouse May Soon Disappear

In response to a poll featured in the Medicine Hat News on December 2, 2011, 89.8% of all respondents said they were extremely concerned that sage-grouse may soon disappear from Alberta, as scientists predict. 

These results confirm that, even if our elected officials don't seem to be troubled by staggeringly low counts (only 13 males were counted on leks in 2011), the Alberta public feels that allowing the sage-grouse to disappear from our grasslands is an issue of great concern.

Sage-grouse scientists have predicted that, based on the current trajectory of population decline, the iconic prairie bird will be extirpated from Alberta within two years. In addition, as sage-grouse declines have resulted in response to rampant oil and gas development, its extirpation would be a preventable, human-caused loss. Now is the time for government action at both the provincial and federal levels; it's what the science says, what the voters want, now all we're missing is the political will!