The January 2022 USGS Annual Data Summary draft report on the Bi-State sage-grouse population from 2008 to 2021 indicates the population declined 40% since 2008—a drop of 1,539 sage grouse. The median total number of birds is estimated at 2,282. Because there are natural variations in the population size - with more birds in good precipitation years and fewer in low precipitation years - a model was used to determine the overall trend.  Looking back 24 years, the population increased by 57.7 from 1995, but looking back 18 or 11 years, the total population has decreased by 15.7 and 9.6 percent respectively since then. The question is, will the population increase again or will it continue the current downward trend?  Read on...

I know two things about wild horses and burros. It's thrilling to see them in the wild and their presence in the wild is causing problems. Read on...

Check out the iNaturalist app. It is a fun way to notice more about nature as you hike and to learn about what you find. Read on...

Many animals stay in the snow country in the Eastern Sierra year-round. In winter it is much easier to see their tracks and realize how many animals there are! Some tracks are easier to read than others and to figure out what animal made them. Read on...