LUBBOCK, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Ranchers across the Southern Plains will see regulatory relief after federal officials removed the lesser prairie-chicken from Endangered Species Act protections. The decision reduces compliance uncertainty for cattle operations managing rangeland habitat.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized the delisting of both the Northern and Southern distinct population segments, reversing a 2022 listing that became effective in March 2023. Livestock groups challenged the rule in federal court, arguing it failed to properly account for scientific data and economic impacts.
Operationally, the prior listing required additional consultation and compliance measures tied to designated critical habitat. In 2025, a federal district court vacated the associated 4(d) rule, concluding the agency had not adequately evaluated economic considerations affecting producers.
The protections apply across Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, where grazing operations intersect with prairie habitat. Producers in those states cited concerns about land-use flexibility and voluntary conservation participation.
With delisting finalized, attention turns to state-led conservation programs and continued habitat management without federal ESA constraints.
