The Dunes Sagebrush Lizard: a crisis fueled by big oil

By: Charlie Barrett

Outlets: Source New Mexico

Published: May 21, 2026

Words: 683

Last Updated: 2 months ago

Body Text Preview

The dunes sagebrush lizard lives where few others can: in wind-sculpted dune blowouts tucked inside shinnery oak landscapes along the Permian Basin edge. Its survival hinges on landforms that are unique, irreplaceable and increasingly imperiled by oil and gas activity. Habitat loss and fragmentation from roads, well pads, pipelines and associated linear disturbance are reshaping the very stage on which this species performs, pushing its populations toward decline and, for some patches, local extinction.

A …

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.

About

FAQ

Email Us