The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of common raven on greater sage-grouse nest success and LEK trends in the baker sage-grouse priority area for conservation (PAC), which has…

The State of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife received a Formula Grant award of $568,449 from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1 under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. This research and monitoring initiative investigates the impacts of common raven predation on greater sage-grouse nest success and population trends in the Baker Sage-Grouse Priority Area for Conservation, an area experiencing severe long-term population decline and abnormally high raven densities.

The project employs a rigorous before-and-after study design comparing raven removal outcomes in the Baker Priority Area against two reference areas without removal efforts. Key deliverables include comprehensive data collection on sage-grouse nest survival and habitat use, demographic monitoring of marked raven populations, and assessment of both lethal and non-lethal management strategies to reduce raven predation impacts. The study will generate critical knowledge to predict sage-grouse population responses to raven predation and inform wildlife management decisions in areas where raven-sage-grouse conflict threatens conservation objectives.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of common raven on greater sage-grouse nest success and LEK trends in the baker sage-grouse priority area for conservation (PAC), which has experienced a severe and long-term sage-grouse population decline, and in which abnormally high densities of common ravens have been observed. This study will implement a rigorous study design with data collection both before and after a lethal raven removal effort in the baker PAC, and with two reference areas where raven removal is not implemented, to fully assess the impacts of raven predation and lethal removal on sage-grouse nest survival and habitat use. Additionally, through detailed monitoring of marked ravens, raven habitat use and demographic rates will be assessed with a goal of describing effective non-lethal means to limit the negative impacts of raven predation on sage-grouse populations. This knowledge is needed to predict sage-grouse population response to raven predation, and to assess management strategies to reduce conflict between ravens and sage-grouse in areas of high raven abundance.