Sweetwater County Easements Help Save Sage Grouse Habitat

The Wyoming Land Trust says private property owners have donated conservation easements on six ranch properties in eastern Sweetwater County that will conserve 1,760 acres of sage grouse habitat. Known as the Sundance Mesa Ranches, property owners worked with the trust to help protect a significant sage grouse lek about 20 miles west of Rawlins. The state Game and Fish Department says the lek is a breeding ground to as many as 90 male and 50 female birds. The easements mean that the properties will remain permanent habitat for sage grouse and other wildlife.