OLYMPIA – State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials say they need to spend nearly $4 million in the next two years to protect pygmy rabbits and sage grouse from over development and wildfires in Eastern Washington.

To that end, the agency is moving ahead with plans to spend $2.35 million to restore and protect shrubsteppe habitat and an additional $1.5 million, to rebuild “wild life-friendly” fences.

Fish and Wildlife officials said they will work with other natural resource agencies and “diverse stakeholders” on how to allocate the funds previously approved by the Legislatu...