AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Husbandry of Wild-Caught Greater Sage-Grouse

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2005
Authors:Oesterle, P, McLean, R, Dunbar, M, Clark, L
Journal:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Volume:33
Issue:3
Date Published:2005
ISBN Number:00917648
Keywords:Centrocercus, Centrocercus urophasianus, Phasianidae
Abstract:This study reports the first successful husbandry and breeding in captivity of wild-caught greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). In October 2003, 21 hatch-year greater sage-grouse were trapped in northwestern Nevada and transported to Fort Collins, Colorado. We held grouse in pens at the United States Department of Agriculture's National Wildlife Research Center for 8 months. We offered a varied diet, including native food items such as sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata and A. tripartita) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium). We housed grouse in a large flight pen and allowed to them free-range as one flock. Mortality rate was 16.7%. Several of the grouse exhibited breeding behavior, and 13 eggs were laid. We describe the techniques used to house and feed wild-caught sage-grouse. This study has conservation implications for captive breeding of this species of concern.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3785043
Short Title:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith