Court favors sage grouse in Mont. grazing lawsuit

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Mar 11, 2010 at 9:28 PM MST

Story Updated: Mar 11, 2010 at 9:28 PM MST

HELENA - The U.S. Forest Service must re-examine how livestock grazing affects sage grouse habitat in southwestern Montana after an appeals court ruled its original assessment was not reliable.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the Forest Service Tuesday to prepare a new environmental assessment for its livestock allotments in the 48,000-acre Antelope Basin.

Tens of thousands of acres have been identified as sage grouse habitat, but few of the chicken-sized birds can be found there. Michael Garrity, of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, says the ruling means the Forest Service must ensure that grazing will not harm the sage grouse's recovery.

The Forest Service did not immediately return a call for comment.

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