[mou] Big Stone-Lac qui Parle sharptails

[John Schladweiler]

Our field staff at Lac qui Parle WMA have had a number of sightings of =
sharptailed grouse this winter.  The latest is a flock of 20 that has been =
observed the last few days on the Big Stone NWR.  There have also been =
10-12 on the Lac qui Parle WMA just east of Highway 75, birds present at =
Chippewa Prairie and a flock of 10 birds at the Mounds Spring SNA in =
western Yellow Medicine County.  It is likely that the early ice storm in =
NE South Dakota has pushed sharptails from that area to the east. =20

This is likely not good news from the standpoint of the prairie chicken =
reintroduction efforts into this area.  As you may know, prairie chickens =
and sharptails will often share booming grounds and hybridize.  When this =
occurs, it reduces the production from either species seperately.  If =
anyone sees sharptails in this area please let the staff at Lac qui Parle =
WMA or myself know.

John=20