Washington, DC - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listing the sage grouse as a candidate species for protection in Idaho. As a candidate species, the same conservation efforts of most of the last decade will continue with greater federal involvement.

"For the past eight years groups around the state have been working voluntarily and in good faith to preserve Idaho's sage grouse habitat. The listing of the sage grouse as a candidate species does not add any additional resources, other than greater federal oversight. While we do not believe greater oversight is necessary, the state, conservation groups, permittees and recreationists will continue to find ways to reverse the decline of sage grouse habitat."

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