Politics threaten the protection of endangered sage grouse

Years ago, I rose early and climbed into the cab of a truck with an employee of the Colorado Department of Wildlife (now known as the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife).  We drove from an office in Grand Junction Colorado up a winding road past desert spires and cliffs through Colorado National Monument. We left before the sun was up and I remember the air having a chill, even before we drove to higher elevation.   We spent the day driving and walking through a …