The Wyoming sage grouse populations hit an all-time low in the early 1990s following an extended drought and loss of habitat. Statewide lek counts remain above the mostrecent low seen in 2013. Habitat is key to the sustainability of sage grouse, and that is underscored in times of drought. Sage grouse are a sagebrush obligate species and could not survive without the plant. " Sage grouse cannot thrive if the sagebrush habitat is fragmented and in poor condition which is why Wyoming engages in significant efforts to conserve sage grouse and build resiliency in the ecosystem, " Schreiber said. " Habitat projects that keep water on the landscape will be a priority in the coming years. " Game and Fish data on sage grouse lek attendance goes back nearly six decades and charts the cyclical nature of the bird's population. " Sage grouse populations rise and fall, " Schreiber said. " Studies indicate Wyoming's population cycles every six to eight years. " The cause of these well-established cycles is not understood, but it is thought to be influenced by weather and climate, which in turn impacts the availability of food and cover in the sagebrush ecosystem. Game and Fish manages sage grouse to accommodate for the natural rises and falls in their population cycle. Part of that management includes a conservative hunting season. Sage grouse populations appear to be in the midst of a downward trend in their population cycle, and hunters can expect to see fewer birds in their fall pursuit. - Sara DiRienzo, WGFD Wyoming Wildlife | 11