Greater Sage-Grouse Winter Habitat in Idaho and Southwestern Montana

Greater Sage-Grouse winter habitat is mapped for Idaho and southwestern Montana, based on the 2015 Final Environmental Impact Statement. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game developed the spatial data, defining winter as December 1 to February 28. The dataset includes nesting habitat areas that overlap with the identified winter zones.

Use Cases

• Analyze the spatial overlap between winter habitat and IDFG-mapped nesting habitat layers.
• Model species distribution by correlating habitat polygons with environmental factors like elevation, particularly in the Raft River Unit.
• Assess habitat availability and connectivity for conservation planning within the defined winter period.
• Identify Priority Habitat Management Areas in the Dillon Field Office region where specific winter habitat data is unavailable.

Strengths

• Spatial data developed by a state wildlife agency (Idaho Department of Fish and Game).
• Explicitly defines the winter season as December 1 to February 28 for consistent analysis.

Limitations

• Data is limited to Idaho, with no specific winter habitat spatial data available for the Montana Dillon Field Office.
• Winter habitat use is noted as highly variable year-to-year due to snowpack, limiting temporal generalizability.

Provenance

Source

Idaho Department of Fish and Game, compiled for the BLM Greater Sage-Grouse Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

Collection Method

Spatial mapping and analysis by IDFG; specific processing steps are referenced but not detailed.

Time Range

Analysis reflects conditions for the 2015 FEIS; winter season is defined annually from December to February.

Freshness

Based on a 2015 analysis, with metadata last updated in 2026.

Geography

Idaho and southwestern Montana (specifically the Dillon Field Office area), excluding areas like the Raft River Unit in Utah.