By Scout Nelson
Kansas political leaders and agricultural groups are welcoming a recent decision that removes federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken, a bird species found across several Great Plains states. The change follows a court ruling that challenges a previous federal listing designed to protect the bird’s habitat.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially removed the endangered and threatened status for the lesser prairie chicken after a Texas federal court ruled that earlier federal findings did not meet legal standards. The decision affects bird populations across Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and parts of Texas.
The lesser prairie chicken is known for its colorful courtship displays and distinctive neck pouches. Historically, the species lived widely across grasslands in the region. Historical estimates suggest the population once reached hundreds of thousands or even millions of birds. Today, the population is estimated at about 30,000, and its habitat range has declined by roughly 90%.
Federal protection for the species was first granted in 2022. At that time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service divided the bird into two population groups. Birds in the southern region were listed as endangered, while birds in the northern region were classified as threatened.
Texas agencies challenged that decision in court in 2023. The lawsuit later gained support from Kansas and Oklahoma attorneys general as well as livestock and energy industry groups. The court ruled that the federal classification lacked sufficient support.
U.S. District Judge David Counts issued a decision that overturned the earlier listing. His ruling stated that the agency’s endangered and threatened findings had “no leg to stand on.”
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach welcomed the outcome and said the ruling protects rural economies.
“Our successful litigation protected private property rights, supported our rural economy, and stopped federal overreach,” Kobach said.
He also stated that the federal protections “would have crippled energy production and limited when and where ranchers could graze cattle on their own properties.”
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran also praised the decision, calling it beneficial for farmers and ranchers.
“For years, Kansas producers have worked to protect the bird’s habitat through voluntary, locally driven conservation efforts, but the listing’s burdensome federal regulations put severe strain on many Kansas industries,” Moran said.
Conservation organizations strongly oppose the decision and warn the bird still faces serious threats from habitat loss and environmental pressures.
“Lesser prairie chickens may be lost forever without Endangered Species Act protections. We’re fighting this decision to make sure they get them,” said Jason Rylander of the Center for Biological Diversity.
The group has filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as the debate over wildlife protection and land use continues.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-wikoski
Categories: Kansas, Government & Policy, Livestock, Poultry