Wyoming Game and Fish want to ensure the public get the best views of one of Wyoming’s most well-known natural events. As the grass is turning green around the state and spring has sprung, April is one of the best months to view sage grouse on their leks in the Cowboy State.
According to the Game and Fish, the greater sage grouse is the largest species of grouse in North America. Each spring male sage grouse perform an elaborate sunrise display on communal breeding grounds known as leks. While sage grouse require sagebrush landscapes to survive, leks are often located in open areas where the males can be better seen and heard by females.
“The dramatic display makes viewing sage grouse a popular recreational activity during the spring across much of Wyoming,” sage grouse biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Nyssa Whitford said. “This year’s conditions are mostly dry across the state. We may still receive spring storms so be vigilant, watch the weather and pick a string of dry, clear mornings for your lek visit this year.”
To guide your lek outings, Game and Fish launched the Sage Grouse Lek Viewing Guide to take you to the best publicly-accessible viewing locations across Wyoming. The guide provides directions to each lek location.
There are courtesies to follow while witnessing the sage grouse’s early-morning rituals on accessible leks.
“It’s important to give them distance and not be obtrusive,” Whitford said.
Game and Fish urges individuals when viewing to:
Arrive at lek sites at least one hour before sunrise.
Park away from the edge of the lek. Do not drive onto the lek.
Turn off vehicle lights and engine.
Use binoculars and spotting scopes to observe birds.
Stay in your vehicle.
Avoid making loud noises or sudden movements.
Let the bird leave before you do.
Leave pets at home.
Respect private land and do not trespass.
Postpone your visit if roads are muddy.
Whitford also advises being especially cautious with viewing activities in early-April when breeding activity usually peaks.
“Late-April is a good time to visit because most of the breeding is complete, but the males are still actively strutting. The weather is usually better, too,” she said.
