Lesser Prairie-Chicken Numbers are Up

Credit U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service/Public Domain

The threatened lesser prairie chicken has seen population improvements, according to a new report.

The report comes from the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Daryl Fisher is a regional biologist for the organization, and says last year's data shows about a 25% increase in total population numbers. He says biologists are currently gathering aerial data for this year's assessment, and adds this trend could continue.

Credit U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

"Depending on what we humans do as far as further development, if development happens in methods that don't impact as much, then the species will certainly be able to continue being in the area," says Fisher.

Fisher says the improved numbers could be due to conservation efforts across the region, as well as the abundance of rain in the past couple years.

The habitat of lesser prairie-chickens spans five states, including Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado.