Federal listing of prairie grouse: lessons from the Attwater's prairie-chicken

Abstract

Considerable controversy has often surrounded proposals to confer official status (i.e., list) species under the authority of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 as amended or its precursors. Recent proposals to list the lesser prairie‐chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus), the western sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus phaios), and the Gunnison sage grouse (C. minimus) were met with strong opposition by those concerned with prospects of an increased regulatory environment associated with such an action. The Attwater's prairie‐chicken (T. cupido attwateri) was one of the first species listed under The Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1966, the first federal effort to specifically protect endangered species. Federal listing benefited the Attwater's by raising awareness of its status and by authorizing additional sources of funding for its management. While concern over an increased regulatory environment associated with the endangered status of the Attwater's probably has always existed among property owners and land managers, conflicts involving this bird have been few and local in scope. Maintaining good working relationships and respect for all affected interests, including property owners and land managers, has been paramount in Attwater's recovery efforts. However, these efforts at times have been hampered by “lightning‐rod” issues pertaining to other species. Despite 35 years of ESA protection, the Attwater's prairie‐chicken remains perilously close to extinction. Based on these experiences, federal listing should be viewed neither as a panacea nor as a demon, but rather as a tool in species recovery.

Wild Birds, a Source of Reticuloendotheliosis Virus Infection for the Endangered Attwater's Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri)?

“…Only an estimated 8,700 individuals remained in 19 Texas counties by 1937 (Lehmann 1941), down from a historic distribution of up to 48 Texas counties ) which may have supported numbers approaching 1 million in peak years (Lehmann 1941). Population declines continued and by 1999, APC remained in only two counties (Morrow et al 2004) ( Figure 1, Appendix 1). Populations in these two counties have been buoyed since 1996 by supplementation with birds reared in captivity (Morrow et al 2004.…”

“…Population declines continued and by 1999, APC remained in only two counties (Morrow et al 2004) ( Figure 1, Appendix 1). Populations in these two counties have been buoyed since 1996 by supplementation with birds reared in captivity (Morrow et al 2004. Beginning in 2007, APCs have also been released at a third site in Goliad County.…”

“…Remaining APC populations have been supplemented with captive-reared birds since 1996. In the absence of this supplementation, APCs populations would have undoubtedly become extinct in the wild (Morrow et al 2004). Toepfer (2003) stated that historical GPC data suggests isolated populations generally disappear once they fall below 100 cocks unless intensive management is implemented.…”

“…Beginning in 1967 through the present, a multitude of research projects has been conducted primarily at TAMU on topics including life history, habitat management, predator management, genetics, limiting factors, captive breeding, and population supplementation (Morrow et al 2004). Silvy et al (1999) provided a review of much of this research.…”

“…Since 1985, the APC population on this site has numbered fewer than 50 individuals (Morrow et al 2004). TCPP and APCNWR currently contain two of three free-ranging APC populations.…”