It is closely associated with sagebrush Artemesia habitats during the breeding and non-breeding seasons, although some populations do undergo seasonal movements (del Hoyo et al. 1994, Schroeder et al. 1999). It is a lekking species. It may act as an umbrella to other sage-brush specialists when conserved.
The interaction between the spread of invasive grasses and increased fire frequency causes ongoing loss and degradation of the sagebrush habitat on which the species depends. There are further impacts recorded from the expansion of conifer forest, human development and over-abundant grazers (Remington et al. 2021). Despite a concerted and large-scale multi-stakeholder response to address sagebrush loss, these threats continue to affect the range. An ongoing decline in the area, extent and in the quality of the species’ habitat is inferred.

This species is restricted to the sagebrush shrublands of the interior northwest of North America, now almost confined to the USA with few remaining in Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada. In the US the largest populations remain in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and Nevada, with fewer in Oregon, Utah, North and South Dakota and Colorado. Isolated populations are found in Washington, Jackson’s Hole in central Wyoming and along the border of California and Nevada. The species has become extirpated from British Columbia. 
Based on the modelling of long-term lek-count data the population has been declining at a rapid rate for several decades and further local extirpations are being prevented through intensive conservation action.

Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs within a number of protected areas and has been the focus of extensive ecological study. Management recommendations have been made to minimise the impacts of natural gas exploitation in sagebrush habitat (Holloran and Anderson 2005) and the Western Governor's Association are developing a strategy to minimise the impacts of development on sage grouse populations. A total of 63 Sage Grouse Local Working Groups have been established within its range, bringing stakeholders together to plan and implement local level conservation actions.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Adopt best practice methods when developing gas fields. Continue to monitor population trends. Manage the sage-brush ecosystem in a way that is beneficial to other habitat specialists and restores natural food-webs.