Federal Judge Removes Lesser Prairie-Chicken from Endangered Species List
Nullification of US Fish and Wildlife Service Decision Leaves Threatened Bird’s Future Uncertain
DALLAS, Texas – Earlier this week a federal district court voided the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to list the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, a brightly-colored resident of the southern Great Plains known for its unique mating dance, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The National Audubon Society issued the following statement:
“Removing the Lesser Prairie-Chicken from the endangered species list eliminates necessary and critical protections required for this species to return to a stable population,” said Executive Director of Audubon Texas Brian Trusty. “The US Fish and Wildlife Service is best suited to judge whether a species requires a listing, and reestablishing protections ensured by the Endangered Species Act is paramount for its successful comeback. Voluntary measures are essential and will continue to play a role in this species’ conservation management, but unfortunately they alone are not sufficient for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken.”
The National Audubon Society saves birds and their habitats throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon's state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, Audubon's vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Audubon is a nonprofit conservation organization. Learn more at www.audubon.org and @audubonsociety.
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Contact: Nicolas Gonzalez, ngonzalez@audubon.org, 212-979-3068