Hickenlooper orders Colorado to step up sage grouse protections — but will it be enough?

Gov. John Hickenlooper on Friday issued an executive order for state agencies to step up their efforts to protect the greater sage grouse in hopes of the bird off the list of endangered species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFS) has a September 30 deadline to make a decision on whether the spiky-feathered bird is a candidate for the endangered species list, or not. Sage grouse habitat includes extensive areas of oil and gas development, and an endangered species listing could mean new restrictions…