USDA Forest Service staff on the Fort Pierre National Grassland have now completed their annual survey of Greater Prairie-Chickens and Sharp-tailed Grouse. A total of 878 displaying males were tallied in spring 2024, a 29% increase over spring 2023. Both Greater Prairie-Chickens and Sharp-tailed Grouse were at record-high numbers on this survey, which has been conducted annually since the 1980s.
Last year’s great nesting success produced this spring’s bumper crop of Greater Prairie-Chicken and Sharp-tailed Grouse. Nesting cover this year was reduced by heavy snows causing long dormant grass to lay down. Now, the grasses have returned with spring rain to offer cover, as these birds are still nesting. As District Ranger, Dan Svingen explains: “If good weather and habitat conditions continue, they should be of great help to nesting birds this year.”
Greater Prairie-Chicken male displaying on the Fort Pierre National Grassland.
Photo by Dan Svingen.
A Sharp-tailed Grouse male displaying on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland.
Photo by Steve Severson.
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