Plan For Lesser Prairie Chicken In The Works

CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Director Jim Lane says the state wants to keep a prairie grouse under state authority and keep the bird off the federal register.

The Portales News-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/11hz4sI) that Lane told eastern New Mexico residents Tuesday that New Mexico is working with Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado on a plan on the lesser prairie chicken.

He says the plan outlines how ranchers, wind energy stewards and the oil and gas industry can operate and not negatively impact the chickens.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced last month that it will reopen the comment period on the proposal to list the prairie grouse as a threatened species.

Lane encouraged New Mexico residents to speak out on the proposed listing.

A decision is scheduled for September.

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Information from: Portales News-Tribune, http://www.pntonline.com