Gardner Wants to Delay Sage- Grouse Listing Freshman Colorado Senator Cory Gardner has introduced an act to delay the endangered species designation of the Gunnison Sage-grouse. His act would allow states at least six more years to implement conservation and management plans to protect the grouse without the need for federal protection. Once numbering in the millions, the Sage-grouse have seen rapid decline since 1985 to an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 due to housing, agriculture and industrial development. The proposal was immediately blasted by a number of groups, including Conservation Colorado, the National Wildlife Federation, The National Audubon Society and ...