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HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The latest on a proposal to ship sage grouse from Montana to Canada to bolster the population (all times local): 11:15 a.m. Montana has approved a program to relocate dozens of sage grouse to help restore the struggling bird population in the Canadian province of Alberta. State Fish and Wildlife Commission chairman Dan Vermillion said Thursday that the program will help the recovery of the ground-dwelling bird on both sides of border. There was one dissenting vote over concerns that last year's increase in the sage grouse population was an anomaly after years of decline. The commission authorized shipping 40 sage grouse hens to southern Alberta this year. The province has asked for a total of 120 birds by 2020, but state officials plan to review the effects of the program before any more relocations. Fish, Wildlife and Parks director Jeff Hagener says Alberta has an estimated 120 sage grouse left. ___ 12:40 a.m. Montana officials will decide Thursday whether to relocate dozens of sage grouse to Alberta to help restore the struggling bird population in the Canadian province of Alberta. Several Montana lawmakers oppose the plan. The Environmental Quality Council on Thursday sent a letter to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks requesting a three-year block on moving any of the chicken-sized birds out of the country. Democratic Rep. Jim Keane of Butte says Fish, Wildlife and Parks should instead look to bolstering areas within the state where the bird is in decline. Last year, federal officials announced restrictions on 67 million acres of public lands to protect the bird's habitat and prevent it from becoming an endangered species. Fish, Wildlife and Parks director Jeff Hagener says there are an estimated 120 sage grouse in Alberta. The proposal would ship 40 birds from Montana the first year.

The Latest: Montana approves sending sage grouse to Canada