US Reps urge delisting of Lesser Prairie-Chicken

Lesser Prairie-Chickens In The Texas Panhandle

 

Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas joined a Kansas U.S. Representative and others from Oklahoma this week in applying pressure on Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to delist the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Rep. Lucas and Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican from Kansas sent a letter to Interior Secretary citing the stable population of the species and the successful, voluntary public-private conservation practices. They also pointed out that the one-year review of the LPC is unnecessary.

Lesser prairie chicken - Wikipedia

“Current law provides FWS with discretion to prioritize critically impaired species, while giving lower priority to those species for which conservation efforts are already in place,” wrote the lawmakers. “There are currently extensive conservation measures underway and in development by states, landowners, and industry stakeholder that will benefit the LPC. The LPC population has increased by more than 50 percent since FWS began this process.”
The lawmakers continued, “The citizens of our states have long strived to protect wildlife and provide for livestock in the region. This area is still home to some of the most open and rural land in the country today. Pushing forward with relisting the LPC under the Endangered Species Act would adversely impact our constituents and their voluntary conservation efforts. We ask that you consider these concerns as you evaluate the priorities of FWS.”
Representatives joining Rep. Ron Estes and Rep. Frank Lucas are Reps. Tom Cole, Kevin Hern, Markwayne Mullin, Jake LaTurner, Tracey Mann, and Louie Gohmert.
The text of the letter can be found here