Lesser Prairie-Chicken Is Removed from the Endangered Species Act

The fate of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, one of the most cherished and iconic species of the western United States, has become much less certain after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced the removal of the species from listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Lesser Prairie-Chicken has lost more than 90 percent of its historic population and now numbers only about 28,000 individuals.

The end of federal protections is not just a blow to the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, but to the grassland habitats the species relies on across five western states (Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico) — habitats shared with several other declining bird species. Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation have reduced the Lesser Prairie-Chicken’s range by 92 percent since the 1800s, primarily due to the expansion and intensification of agriculture. Energy and urban development are also important factors. Invasive species also threaten the remaining habitat.

The decision to strip federal protections from the beleaguered Lesser Prairie-Chicken reverses a 2022 ruling to list it under the Endangered Species Act, the result of decades of advocacy by conservationists. The species had been listed as Threatened under the ESA, with a southern subpopulation considered Endangered. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Lesser Prairie-Chicken as Vulnerable.

Researchers and conservationists know what actions can be taken to support struggling prairie-chicken populations, such as restoring native prairie grasses on land converted to farming. With the loss of ESA protections for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken comes the potential loss of resources for vital partners in conserving habitat: farmers, ranchers, and landowners.

“It’s more important than ever to address grassland habitat loss and to assist ranchers as they steward the remaining habitats,” said Steve Riley, American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) Chief Conservation Officer. “ABC works closely with farmers and ranchers to foster compatible and sustainable grazing management and control of aggressive plants (like eastern redcedar and mesquite); it’s still possible to turn things around.”

The Endangered Species Act is one of the most effective conservation laws in the U.S., with a proven track record of preventing the extinction of 99 percent of all listed species. Though the Lesser Prairie-Chicken faces an uphill battle in the absence of the ESA’s protections, there are still actions that can help the species and its grassland habitats.

Without the ESA, farmers, ranchers, and landowners will have a more difficult time accessing the technical and financial assistance needed to implement conservation practices on their lands. They stand to lose out on benefits like the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program, which enables landowners to lease their land to the FSA for the purpose of enhancing bird habitat. States within the Lesser Prairie-Chicken’s range were prioritized for the program, but with the loss of ESA protections comes the loss of their place among the first in line for programs like SAFE.

“We can make things get better very quickly in grasslands through appropriate land management practices. We can choose win-win situations that provide the food, fiber, and energy we need while conserving habitat for our imperiled species,” said Riley. “Keeping grasslands green-side-up and helping ranchers along the way is of paramount importance. If we don’t do more to help the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, it’s going to be impossible to turn its population decline around.”

ABC and partners will continue to work with farmers, ranchers, and other partners to mitigate grassland habitat loss and restore habitat vital to the Lesser Prairie-Chicken and other species in great need of conservation while urging its return to the endangered species list. The Endangered Species Act opens the door to expanded landowner assistance, which will be important in conserving this iconic species.