"The lesser prairie chicken, known for the males’ quirky courtship dance, inhabits grasslands sought-after by farming and energy developers."

"The Trump administration has moved to end federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken, a showy grouse with the misfortune of inhabiting southern and central grasslands long sought-after for agriculture and energy development.

In a court filing on Wednesday, officials said the Fish and Wildlife Service had erred in a Biden-era decision that placed the bird on the endangered species list.

It’s the latest in a blur of actions by the White House seeking to weaken or eliminate environmental regulations that constrain President Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” agenda.

And it’s the latest twist for a species whose fate has been fought over for three decades."

Catrin Einhorn reports for the New York Times May 8, 2025. [2]