The Nevada Department of Wildlife is preparing for its annual sage grouse lek surveys and needs your help.

Every year, beginning in early March, department biologists and volunteers rise in the early morning hours, travel to sage grouse strutting grounds and count birds.

This important data will assist wildlife biologists in determining the number of sage grouse found in our state.

This is particularly important now, since the sage grouse is under review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for potential listing as either threatened or endangered.

Lek surveys are conducted during the months of March, April and early May, and take place throughout the state, although mostly north of Highway 50.

Volunteers will travel to assigned leks and observe and count strutting birds.

Anyone interested in participating in lek survey should sign up for a mandatory training session scheduled for March 8, in Reno, and sometime in early April in Elko.

Volunteers can sign up for this training session via the NDOW Web site at http://www.ndow.org/learn/vol/recruiter/index.shtm.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. The department's wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen's license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear.

Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.