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May 22, 2013

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A female sage grouse, left, views a strutting male sage grouse during mating season, in this April, 2001 file photo taken in Northwestern Nevada. An estimated 2 million sage grouse flourished among the western sagebrush 200 years ago but the number is believed to have dwindled now to about 140,000. In the past 20 years alone, the sage grouse population has declined by as much as 80 percent, according to wildlife officials.

Nevada Division of Wildlife / AP

A female sage grouse, left, views a strutting male sage grouse during mating season, in this April, 2001 file photo taken in Northwestern Nevada. An estimated 2 million sage grouse flourished among the western sagebrush 200 years ago but the number is believed to have dwindled now to about 140,000. In the past 20 years alone, the sage grouse population has declined by as much as 80 percent, according to wildlife officials.