Populations of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a key indicator species of the sagebrush steppe, are declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation. In their western range, wildfire is a major driver of this loss and has been linked to reduced population growth. Wildfires create patchy landscapes that sage-grouse must navigate, especially during brood-rearing when chicks are vulnerable to predation and reliant on cover. Understanding brood use of burned areas is essential for guiding sagebrush recovery efforts. Here, we examined brood movement and habitat selection within and outside wildfire scars. Using high-resolution remote sensing, we identified intact shrub patches (“islands”) within burned landscapes to estimate preferred patch size and configuration. We captured 15 broods and fitted hens with GPS backpacks across three burned sites. We applied an integrated step-selection analysis to estimate habitat use differences between burned and unburned areas, emphasizing patch attributes. Although habitat use did not differ significantly across burn categories, broods within burn scars consistently selected shrub islands with distinct size and shape characteristics. Our findings suggest that post-wildfire restoration that prioritizes protecting and maintaining high-use unburned patches will support brood-rearing needs and sage-grouse recovery. These findings are preliminary, subject to change, and provided for best timely science.

Belle Malley is a graduate student in the Graduate Group in Ecology at the University of California, Davis, working in collaboration with Dr. Peter Coates’ lab at the U.S. Geological Survey. Her research focuses on restoration precision management in post-fire landscapes, examining how greater sage-grouse use burned areas to inform habitat recovery efforts. Before pursuing her Master's degree, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Sonoma State University.