Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden-Era Protections for Lesser Prairie Chicken

OKLAHOMA CITY — A U.S. District Court judge has struck down a Biden administration rule listing the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species — a decision cheered by Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas leaders who sued to overturn the designation.

Court’s Reasoning

The ruling found that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service committed “foundational error” when it added the bird to the endangered species list in 2022, saying the agency failed to properly consider state-led conservation programs.

The decision immediately removes federal restrictions that had impacted:

• Livestock grazing

• Oil and gas drilling

• Wind energy projects

• Pipeline development

Reaction From Officials

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond hailed the decision as a win for rural economies:

“This is a victory for landowners and industries that have worked hard to protect this species without crippling economic development.”

Conservation groups warn the ruling could cause population declines for the bird, which inhabits grasslands in the southern Great Plains.