Pioneers of the southern Great Plains in the 1800s described lesser prairie chickens as a bird with “flocks so numerous, they could blot out the sun.” Today, an estimated 27,000 lesser prairie chickens remain in a five-state region, reduced from their historical population of millions.
LPC’s have been in the news frequently over the past year due to their new classifications as both a threatened (northern population) and endangered (southern population) species. But a clear path to federal protection of LPC’s is far from decided - a Congressional Review Act was introduced and voted upon by the U.S. Senate in May 2023 to rescind the USFWS classification, followed by a vote from the U.S. House of Representatives late last week – both votes passed.
At the end of the day, private landowners are the greatest resource to ensure these prairie dancers have a home for the future and luckily, the American rancher is one of the lesser prairie chicken’s many advocates. Another is PF & QF. And we believe with the right kinds and amount of incentive-based, strategic focus for conservation, positive strides for landowners, the bird and its habitat WILL be made.
