County wants core habitat extended

Recent suggestions regarding sage grouse core habitat have drawn the ire of a Sweetwater County commissioner.

Tuesday morning, Commissioner Wally Johnson voiced displeasure with the state government’s refusal to add area on White Mountain to recognized core habitat for sage grouse. The bird has drawn a lot of attention statewide as many fear of its inclusion on the endangered species list, which politicians including Johnson say would curtail industrial development in Wyoming. Within Sweetwater County alone, more than a third of its 2.4 million acres are identified as core habitat.

The county...