The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list the Gunnison sage-grouse as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Most of the roughly 5,000 Gunnison sage-grouse are in Colorado but a small population of about 150 birds nest in southeastern Utah in Monticello. According to USFWS supervisor of ecological services in Colorado Patti Gillet, the agency has until September 2013 to determine if the species will be listed as endangered.
"If listed, we would formulate a recovery team and develop a recovery plan with full participation and coordination with the states," Gillet said.
The public and the scientific community have until March 12 to comment on the USFWS proposal before the agency makes a final decision.