Paxton lawsuit prompts end of federal endangered species protection for Texas lizard
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has stopped protecting the dunes sagebrush lizard as an endangered species after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the federal government. The 2024 endangered status was removed as part of a settlement, and the agency will re-examine the lizard’s situation in the next two years.Key Facts
- The dunes sagebrush lizard is about 2.5 inches long and lives in Texas’s Permian Basin.
- The lizard was declared endangered in 2024 due to threats from oil and gas development.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued, saying the endangered listing was not based on the best scientific data.
- A settlement on July 21 ended the lizard’s endangered classification and requires a new review by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Paxton said Texas should not face restrictions while the review happens and mentioned habitat restoration efforts.
- Conservation groups argue the removal of protections favors oil and gas interests over wildlife.
- Similar actions were taken earlier in 2024 for the lesser prairie chicken in Texas and nearby states.
- The Fish and Wildlife Service will work with local partners to protect the lizard’s habitat during the reassessment period.
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