With my 25 years of experience working with prairie-chickens (first, as an
academic biologist, and now, as a conservationist), I wanted to clarify a
few things.
A federal court in Texas vacated the ruling last August. Yesterday's
delisting is just a formalization of that decision.
The USFWS not only published the delisting yesterday, they also published a
'status review' with a 30-day public comment period. This is the first step
in getting the bird re-listed. The USFWS is requesting information about
any changes that have occurred since the 2022 listing. If you have seen
lesser prairie-chickens disappear from an area (or expand into a new area),
or if you have seen energy development in the historical range of the
lesser prairie-chicken, please submit a comment. I would also like to know
your observations to incorporate into a larger-picture comment to be
submitted by Audubon of Kansas.
Regarding hunting and state protections - There are two areas where lesser
prairie-chickens' range in Kansas has expanded into areas where
prairie-chicken hunting is allowed. Because a person cannot differentiate
between greater and lesser in flight without binoculars while holding a
gun, there is a possibility that lesser prairie-chickens are harvested in
these areas.
There are no protections for lesser prairie-chickens under state law. They
are not listed as state threatened, endangered, or SINC (species in need of
conservation).
For more information about the prairie-chicken ruling, and ways to help,
sign up for Audubon of Kansas newsletters HERE
<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/GUaEwOL>.
An article on that topic will be in the upcoming newsletter, published in
early March.
Please reach out if you have any other questions about prairie-chickens.
-Jackie Augustine
Prairie-Chicken Geek & Executive Director, Audubon of Kansas
On Fri, Feb 27, 2026 at 8:36 AM Roger Ellis <roger...>
wrote:
> Hunting is still not allowed and protected under state laws.
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Feb 27, 2026, at 8:16 AM, Sebastian Patti <sebastianpatti...>
> wrote:
> >
> > So sad.
> >
> > <sebastianpatti...>
> > Sebastian T. Patti
> > 552 W. Belden Ave.
> > Chicago, ILLINOIS 60614-3354
> > CELL: 773/304-7488
> > ________________________________
> > From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> on
> behalf of Max Thompson <maxt...>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 5:13 PM
> > To: <KSBIRD-L...> <KSBIRD-L...>
> > Subject: Lesser Prairie-Chicken
> >
> > The Lesser Prairie-Chicken has now lost its protected status in Kansas
> New Mexico and Colorado. The Trump administration took it off the
> threatened list. Kansas Senators were elated.Max Thompson
> >
> > For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to
> > https://listserv.ksu.edu/ksbird-l.html< > https://listserv.ksu.edu/ksbird-l.html> > > For KSBIRD-L guidelines go to
> > http://www.ksbirds.org/KSBIRD-LGuidelines.htm< > http://www.ksbirds.org/KSBIRD-LGuidelines.htm> > > To contact a listowner, send a message to
> > mailto:<ksbird-l-request...> > >
> > For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to
> > https://listserv.ksu.edu/ksbird-l.html > > For KSBIRD-L guidelines go to
> > http://www.ksbirds.org/KSBIRD-LGuidelines.htm > > To contact a listowner, send a message to
> > mailto:<ksbird-l-request...> >
> For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to
> https://listserv.ksu.edu/ksbird-l.html > For KSBIRD-L guidelines go to
> http://www.ksbirds.org/KSBIRD-LGuidelines.htm > To contact a listowner, send a message to
> mailto:<ksbird-l-request...> >
