The lesser prairie chicken has been officially taken off the federal endangered and threatened species list following action by the Trump administration.
The bird’s range stretches across parts of five states, but it has already lost roughly 80 to 90 percent of its historic habitat. With federal protections now lifted, conservation efforts will largely fall to private landowners because the species primarily occupies private property.
Conservationists say the move could have wider environmental consequences. Matthew Bain with The Nature Conservancy in Kansas called the lesser prairie chicken a “symbol species” for grasslands, noting that its presence reflects the health of native prairie ecosystems.
Environmental advocates warn the population has declined sharply. Legal experts working on the issue say the bird has lost more than 90 percent of its range, with only a few thousand birds remaining in the southern population and slightly more in the Great Plains.
Critics argue the species has been listed as endangered before and caution that political debate should not determine whether the bird ultimately survives. Supporters of the change have said conservation can continue through voluntary efforts and state or private programs.