Press Room

Endangered Species Listing for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken β€œis the right call”

Adding the Lesser Prairie-Chicken to the Endangered Species List will not only help the bird, but the people who share its rangeland.
Lesser Prairie-Chicken. Brittany Meagher/±¬ΑΟΉ«Ιη Photography Awards
By ±¬ΑΟΉ«Ιη
Published May 26, 2021

SANTA FE, N.M. β€“ The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to the Lesser Prairie-Chicken. The FWS also announced it will split management of the populations between the northern and southern parts of its range, which includes portions of five states (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico). The endangered listing will only apply to the population in the bird’s southern range, which includes New Mexico and Texas, while the Northern population will be listed as threatened. 

β€œAfter decades of working to avoid this moment for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, this is the right call by the Fish and Wildlife Service,” said Jon Hayes, executive director of ±¬ΑΟΉ«Ιη Southwest and vice president at the ±¬ΑΟΉ«Ιη. β€œVoluntary measures and agreements are important and commendable, but the science is telling us that if we don’t do more we’re going to lose these birds.”

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits anyone from harming an endangered species either directly or indirectly, it requires the development of a recovery plan for the species, and it generally requires the identification of critical habitat.

β€œThis listing isn’t just about protecting the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, it’s also about improving the places we share with it,” said Hayes. β€œNew federal investments and incentives for landowners resulting from today’s decision will make our grassland healthier, improve the infiltration of groundwater, sequester carbon, and make the rangeland more resilient overall. This is good for the bird and for ranchers, farmers, and communities who also depend on these resources.”

±¬ΑΟΉ«Ιη’s Conservation Ranching program supports market incentives for ranchers that manage their rangeland for bird habitat. Innovative partnerships like this provide a win-win solution for birds, like the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, and beef producers.

β€œWhether you’re a cow or a bird, you need healthy grass and soil,” said Hayes. β€œThis is our opportunity to not only save this species, but do so while also bolstering rural economies and addressing the climate crisis.”

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken was first proposed for ESA listing in 1995. In the more than 25 years since that original petition, the bird has been through , court orders, and failed recovery efforts, all while the populations continue to plummet.

Read more from Jon Hayes about

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Media Contact: Matt Smelser, matt.smelser@audubon.org