Amodei will tour Elko’s sage grouse experiment

ELKO (AP) — Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei has agreed to make a trip to Elko County to see an experimental program at a ranch aimed at rebuilding populations of sage grouse through predator control.

The Elko Daily Free Press reports newly appointed Nevada Department of Wildlife Director Tony Wasley also has accepted an invitation from the county commission to visit the pilot program at the Devil’s Gate Ranch.

Commissioner Grant Gerber says an exact date for the tours hasn’t been set.

The commissioners are pushing predator control of coyotes and ravens as the best way to protect the bird being considered for endangered species listing. They say that will do more good than proposals by conservation groups to cut back on livestock grazing on Nevada’s high desert rangelands.