Republicans celebrate as lesser prairie chicken loses threatened, endangered status

By: Anna Kaminski

Outlets: Kansas Reflector

Published: March 1, 2026

Words: 668

Last Updated: 1 week, 3 days ago

Body Text Preview

TOPEKA — The stocky, dancing bird that populates prairies across five states lost its federal protections — not because its habitat or population have dramatically improved, but because a Texas court sided with energy and livestock groups.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday delisted the lesser prairie chicken, stripping it of federal habitat protections afforded under a Biden-era ruling.

The bird, known for its flamboyant courtship dances and bulging neck pouches, roams …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us