Date: 7/14/26 3:07 pm
From: <chobbs.f1...>
Subject: Re: Lesser Prairie-Chicken
Your assumption is correct. Anyone who supports the current administration should turn in their bino's and do the walk of shame outta here.

Chris Hobbs
Lenexa

-----Original Message-----
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> On Behalf Of Kenneth Kinman
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 11:41 AM
To: <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: Lesser Prairie-Chicken

Hi All,
First, the Lesser Prairie-Chicken was delisted earlier this year. And now (last Friday) the Federal Government "moved to open the habitats of imperiled animals to farming, drilling, mining, real estate development and other activities in what environmentalists characterized as the most severe erosion of protections for wildlife in half a century." (see weblink below).
I assume this will further threaten lesser prairie-chicken habitat in Kansas and elsewhere. Or is this move subject to challenges in the courts?
-----------Ken Kinman (Hays, Kansas)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/climate/endangered-species-act-harm.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20260710&instance_id=178543&nl=breaking-news&regi_id=293000524&segment_id=222895&user_id=954a10be04d94d8be54ae6117a68e4d9

________________________________
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> on behalf of Jackie Augustine <jackie...>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2026 9:53 AM
To: <KSBIRD-L...> <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: Lesser Prairie-Chicken

With my 25 years of experience working with prairie-chickens (first, as an academic biologist, and now, as a conservationist), I wanted to clarify a few things.

A federal court in Texas vacated the ruling last August. Yesterday's delisting is just a formalization of that decision.

The USFWS not only published the delisting yesterday, they also published a 'status review' with a 30-day public comment period. This is the first step in getting the bird re-listed. The USFWS is requesting information about any changes that have occurred since the 2022 listing. If you have seen lesser prairie-chickens disappear from an area (or expand into a new area), or if you have seen energy development in the historical range of the lesser prairie-chicken, please submit a comment. I would also like to know your observations to incorporate into a larger-picture comment to be submitted by Audubon of Kansas.

Regarding hunting and state protections - There are two areas where lesser prairie-chickens' range in Kansas has expanded into areas where prairie-chicken hunting is allowed. Because a person cannot differentiate between greater and lesser in flight without binoculars while holding a gun, there is a possibility that lesser prairie-chickens are harvested in these areas.

There are no protections for lesser prairie-chickens under state law. They are not listed as state threatened, endangered, or SINC (species in need of conservation).

If the lack of state protection concerns you like it concerns me, kindly tell the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Commissioners. Their next meeting is April 9 https://ksoutdoors.gov/KDWP-Info/Commission/Upcoming-Meeting-Information

For more information about the prairie-chicken ruling, and ways to help, sign up for Audubon of Kansas newsletters HERE <https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/GUaEwOL>.
An article on that topic will be in the upcoming newsletter, published in early March.

Please reach out if you have any other questions about prairie-chickens.

-Jackie Augustine
Prairie-Chicken Geek & Executive Director, Audubon of Kansas


On Fri, Feb 27, 2026 at 8:36 AM Roger Ellis <roger...>
wrote:

> Hunting is still not allowed and protected under state laws.
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Feb 27, 2026, at 8:16 AM, Sebastian Patti
> > <sebastianpatti...>
> wrote:
> >
> > So sad.
> >
> > <sebastianpatti...>
> > Sebastian T. Patti
> > 552 W. Belden Ave.
> > Chicago, ILLINOIS 60614-3354
> > CELL: 773/304-7488
> > ________________________________
> > From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...>
> > on
> behalf of Max Thompson <maxt...>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 5:13 PM
> > To: <KSBIRD-L...> <KSBIRD-L...>
> > Subject: Lesser Prairie-Chicken
> >
> > The Lesser Prairie-Chicken has now lost its protected status in
> > Kansas
> New Mexico and Colorado. The Trump administration took it off the
> threatened list. Kansas Senators were elated.Max Thompson
> >
> > For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to
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> https://listserv.ksu.edu/ksbird-l.html>
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> > http://www.ksbirds.org/KSBIRD-LGuidelines.htm<
> http://www.ksbirds.org/KSBIRD-LGuidelines.htm>
> > To contact a listowner, send a message to
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> >
> > For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to
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> > To contact a listowner, send a message to
> > mailto:<ksbird-l-request...>
>
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For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to https://listserv.ksu.edu/ksbird-l.html
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For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to
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