Sage Whiz Quiz | How Do Sagebrush Animals Survive Winter?

Photo of a pronghorn in the alpine glow of sagebrush country. By Lisa Marks, BLM Cody Field Office.

December 6, 2017

Pronghorn in the alpine glow of snowy sagebrush country. Photo: Lisa Marks, BLM Cody Field Office.

Fun Facts 

Photo by Noppadol Paothong

1. Sage grouse eat 100% sagebrush leaves during the winter … and actually gain weight.

2. For small animals, sagebrush plants provides a natural block for wind and snow.

3. Since they have a long tap root (up to six feet deep!) sagebrush can draw water and nutrients from the soil to keep their leaves verdant — and nutritious — all winter long.

Take The Sage Whiz Quiz: Winter for Sagebrush Wildlife

Learn More

Sagebrush country sustains 350 species as well as hundreds of rural communities and our way of life in the American West. The Sage Grouse Initiative works with ranchers on conservation strategies that benefit working lands and wildlife.

See the life cycle of sage grouse

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The Sage Grouse Initiative is a partnership-based, science-driven effort that uses voluntary incentives to proactively conserve America’s western rangelands, wildlife, and rural way of life. This initiative is part of Working Lands For Wildlife, which is led by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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