Washington goes farther than Feds on sage grouse

From the Capital Press

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has affirmed state-protected status for the greater sage grouse, exasperating agriculture groups that argue the state’s inventory of endangered and threatened species shouldn’t include wide-ranging species not on the federal list.

Washington’s list of 53 endangered, threatened or sensitive species includes 16 not protected by the Endangered Species Act. The Department of Fish and Wildlife lists another 112 species as candidates for state listing.

“We think it’s redundant and unnecessary — an additional layer of state regulation that affects farmers and ranchers,” Washington Farm Bureau director of governmental relations Tom Davis said. Read the rest of the story here.