Prairie Chickens Shouldn’t Be Federally Protected, Texas Says

Prairie chickens shouldn’t be protected under the Endangered Species Act because Texas can protect and manage its own natural resources, the state and industry groups claimed in new lawsuits.

Federal protection would force property owners, oil and gas companies, farmers, ranchers, and cattle grazers to comply with onerous regulations wherever the birds are present, the complaints allege.

The Fish and Wildlife Service violated federal law by not taking Texas’ conservation efforts into account when it listed the Lesser Prairie Chicken as threatened and endangered, the state and groups said. It also made unreasonable assumptions about the bird’s current and future ...