U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Efforts to List Lesser Prairie-Chicken as a Threatened Species

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 30, 2012)- Today, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) officials announced their plan to initiate the process to have the Lesser Prairie-Chicken as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Members of the Congressional Western Caucus released  the following statements in response to the announcement:

“Unfortunately, our jobs and our way of life in southern New Mexico continue to come under assault. The prairie chicken is yet another example that federal species regulation is not based on science, but rather driven by lawyers for extreme interest groups, like Santa Fe based WildEarth Guardians who filed the lawsuit in this case.  These groups have filed hundreds of job killing petitions often at taxpayer expense, while never having to live with the consequences to the local communities. I am confident that the Fish and Wildlife Service has learned through the dunes sagebrush lizard case that New Mexico successfully protects our species through local, state and regional agreements.  I have always supported these conservation efforts, and I will continue to hold the Fish and Wildlife Service accountable to allow a balanced, local approach that protects the species without threatening New Mexico’s jobs.”- Western Caucus Chairman Steve Pearce

“I’m disappointed in the Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to move towards listing the Lesser Prairie-Chicken as a threatened species.  This decision could drive ranching families and energy producers out of business.  It’s clear that the Endangered Species Act has grown out of hand and is being driven more by litigation than science.  In Texas, public-private partnerships have proven successful at maintaining habitat for wildlife while still allowing productive use of our resources.  I hope the Service reconsiders this listing and chooses a more cooperative approach.” – Congressman Randy Neugebauer (TX-19)

“I am deeply concerned about the proposed listing of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken as threatened.  A listing will have permanent economic consequences for the people of Texas who live and work in the Permian Basin and the  Texas Panhandle.  Given the high stakes, it is of paramount importance that the Service gets it’s science right and draws accurate conclusions from the data it collects.” – Congressman Michael Conaway (TX-11)

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken can be found in  grasslands in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Despite having faced one of the worst droughts on record in recent years, the prairie chicken population is on the rise or holding steady in many parts of the country, suggesting the success of current agreements and calling into question the need for federal regulation.

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