Prairie Chickens and Legality?

I have seen recently that it might be legal in some areas to own prairie chickens.

Now, let me start off by saying that I am a Texan. I currently reside in Utah but my planned home in progress is to be located in Texas, provided that I can find an appropriate piece of land in an area where my desired animals and plants of choice are legal. I have a great deal of respect for species in general but I am especially fond of the Texas Prairie Chickens.

In Texas, the Lesser Prairie Chicken and the Attwater's Prairie Chicken are endangered species. The Greater Prairie Chicken is NOT native to Texas to my knowledge. The Attwater's Prairie Chicken is Critically Endangered, with a tiny wild and captured population. Attwater's Prairie Chickens live in a highly endangered, coastal Texas prairie habitat. I will be living clear on the other side of Texas. It is HIGHLY illegal to own, disturb or otherwise have anything to do with an Attwater's Prairie Chicken. They have been on the Endangered Species List for decades and are a hen's breath away from going extinct. Needless to say, ownership of this subspecies is out of the question.

Next up we come to the Lesser Prairie Chicken. Beautiful creatures, native to Texas and could use a helping hand in the way of conservation. This would be my Prairie Chicken of choice. They are listed as a Vulnerable species, the same as the Greater Prairie Chicken.

Finally, we have the Greater Prairie Chicken. http://www.purelypoultry.com/exotics-c-178.html

Take a look at that webpage. They have them for sale. However, I do not know if they are legally eligible for sale. Do you need a permit to own one? I believe it is likely that you can't just go and sell these to just anyone. These persons also have a pair of East African Crowned Cranes for sale, which are listed as an Endangered Species which makes me wonder what is going on. I know it is possible to get a permit to purchase Endangered Species in some instances, but are there not additional regulations to protect the offspring of the animals purchased? I do not know the legality of this and I do not mean to imply that the person(s) operating this website are breaking the law. I am simply unclear of what the law is and how it applies to Prairie Chickens.

I assume, considering that the Greater Prairie Chicken is listed for sale on several other websites as well, that it might be plausible that the Lesser Prairie Chicken might also be a bird that is legal for ownership. I am not interested in owning a Prairie Chicken that is not native to Texas because the danger of an escaped bird possibly mating with a Lesser Prairie Chicken and onward could cause a hybridization of the species and deal a death blow to it! Not a risk worth taking! I don't know if the species can cross like that but again, not a risk worth taking.

I have always wanted a Prairie Chicken ever since I was little and saw them at the zoo. I think they are the most beautiful, lovely bird in creation and would love to own some and to help breed them responsibly and to help the species recover.

With that said, does anyone know the legality of owning a Prairie Chicken, reputable dealers to purchase from so I can be certain I am not buying from poachers and supporting the black market animal trade and the requirements and regulations for keeping such birds?

I am sure that there must be some group or organization out there with similar views or members of this forum who are in the know that can help point me in the right direction.

You would have to check with Texas Parks and Wildlife. Resident wildlife, like prairie chickens, are regulated by the states, migratory birds are regulated by the Federal Government, unless it's an endangered species. I applaud your thoughts on wanting lessers and your reasons. I do not know sources, but Texas Parks and Wildlife may be able to assist you. I would suggest you call Austin and talk to the person responsible for issuing permits....they would be the best source of information.

Clint

I will give them a call and find out what I can do. I am planning about how I am going to move back home to Texas and set up a nice little farm. With that in mind, I would also like to manage a few acres to improve or return them to quality prairie land once more because the habitat is just so degraded. I have a great love for species and with the right planning and understanding, I can make my land a safe harbor for some endangered species and an ecosystem that is on the brink of collapse.

I feel that Lesser Prairie Chickens would be my best bet. I see that some States even have it to where you can legally hunt two birds per season if you have a special permit. Lessers are listed as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN but they have been a proposed candidate for the Endangered Species List since 1998.

I just need to find out if I can have them here in Texas and where to get quality stock and to plan the best way to raise them and how to release them appropriately.

I wonder if the Houston Zoo or the Kennedy Space Center, who run the Attwater's program might have some helpful information as well?

I think it is likely possible as Texas has a 'safe harbor' agreement with several landowners to help protect various species, including these chickens. Maybe I should try contacting that organization and see what can be worked out.

Again, I aplaud you're efforts. I doubt a few acres would be useful.....I would think a prairie chicken's home range would be more than a section...I will check tomorrow. I wouldn't fret about the IUCN designation....I evaluate those....and they relate to a species extinction risk....and there are always A LOT of other factors....for most North American species...it is only population size. They have been proposed for endangered designation...but I don't know of any action and doubt there will be.

Regarding release....please give a lot of thought to how the birds are raised. so often I hear about " I am raising birds for conservation...for release..." unfortunately, most raise for egg layers.....they have no incubation inclination...endocrinology selects for egg production....eggs are pulled for artificial incubation....so there is no social parental learning.....no interaction with other species.....it's difficult to release...please think about that as much as you have already considered other things.

Clint

Speceider said:

Agvain, I appauld you efforts. I doubt a few acres would be useful.....I would think a prairie chicken's home range would be more than a section...I will check tgomorrow. I wouldn't fret about the IUCN designation....I evaluate those....and they relate to a species extinction risk....and there are always A LOT of other factors....for most North American species...it is only population size. They have been proposed...but I don't know of any action and doubt there will be.

Regarding release....please give a lot of thought to how the birds are raised. so often I hear about " I am raising birds for conservation...for release..." unfortunately, most raise for egg layers.....they have no incubation inclination...endocrinology selects for egg production....eggts are pulled for artificial incubation....so there is no social parental learning.....no interaction with other species.....it's difficult to release...please think about that as much as you have already conjsidered things.

Clint

Click to expand...

You need 1 acre per bird in the wild. Yeah, it won't add up to much but I hope to start small and build upon it. I would like to get to 20+ acres eventually. I do not plan on buying these birds anytime soon. I just want to know now so I can build relations down the road. It will take YEARS to restore prairie habitat that is suitable for these birds which is why the loss of their habitat is such a huge deal. It is not an easy fix. I figure that I can afford to acquire a couple of acres right off the bat and then work on repairing and fixing up that land and acquiring more as I go along.

It is not just a matter of buying, raising and releasing birds. They need to be trained and educated in the ways of the wild. The chicks have to be taught how to eat and drink and all sorts of issues. This is not a simple matter and certainly not something for amateurs to attempt. I fully intend to enlist the help of those in the know to achieve this goal. Decidedly not a solo project. Prairie Chickens are meant to be wild and I know that I can be content with hearing their booming sounds on my future property. That will be my reward. The happiness of the creatures and knowing that I had the opportunity to aid in their survival so that others may some day enjoy them too will be more than enough for me.

Have you looked at the prairie chicken BNA account.....the Attwater's Prairie Chicken recovery plan, and the IUCN Reintroduction Guidelines?

Clint

I have seen the Attwater's Prairie Chicken recovery plan.

The others, I have not. I did not even know that the IUCN had reintroduction guidelines. I thought they were only a monitoring agency who makes suggestions, not an organization that is actually responsible in any way on the actual species recovery. I thought they just make the plans and organize the science behind the practices to put it in terms the average person can understand.

I love their yearly Red List. Very informative. I am surprised that the Texas Blackland Prairie, whom so many species depend on and is down to 1% or so remaining, would have made the list of their most endangered ecosystems though, given that the already collapsed Aral Sea made the list.

Within the IUCN there are specialist groups....I am on the duck and endangered waterfowl specialist groups, but get the updates for all the groups...there is a reintroduction specialist group.....I have their reintroduction guidelines....pm me you email and I'll send them to you.

Clint

Sounds good!

wow lots of great info thanks guys. ya the praire chickens look awesome so sad that they are disappearing. wanted to get one haha and then started reading about them very interesting looking birds