Wildlife conservationists and energy developers alike found some encouragement in Friday's announcement that the sage grouse won't be listed as a threatened or endangered species.

Many agreed that such a listing would have had a chilling effect on the agriculture and minerals industries, which are the foundation of Wyoming's economy.

However, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the federal government has determined that more protections are warranted for the sage grouse. That means that even without a listing, more restrictions are on the way for public lands where grazing, energy development, recreation and other activities have "fragmented" the remaining sagebrush habitat where sage... [continue via Web link]