The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has officially removed endangered species protections for the dunes sagebrush lizard, a decision announced following a lawsuit led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. This decision brings significant implications for the Permian Basin, where the roughly 2.5-inch-long reptile resides amidst ongoing oil and gas operations—threatening its habitat, as noted by biologists.
The designation of the lizard as endangered happened under the Biden administration in 2024. Paxton challenged this classification, claiming the agency failed to utilize the best available scientific and commercial data. The July 21 settlement between the federal government and Paxton’s office eliminates the lizard’s endangered status and prompts a reassessment by the Wildlife Service.
In a public statement, Paxton praised the decision, asserting that the initial classification ignored efforts towards habitat restoration. He emphasized that Texas should not bear the brunt of what he labeled as an illegal ruling, pending further evaluation of the species’ status.
The Wildlife Service reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the lizard’s habitat through partnerships with local entities. This statement followed the settlement, acknowledging ongoing conservation efforts.
Conservationists and biologists, however, expressed strong opposition to the revocation of the lizard’s endangered status. They argue that the Trump administration has prioritized oil and gas interests over wildlife preservation, citing the recent downgrading of the lesser prairie chicken in Texas and other states as illustrative of this trend.
“There appears to be a disturbing pattern of the Fish and Wildlife Service ignoring its mission to save struggling wildlife like dunes sagebrush lizards and lesser prairie chickens for the convenience of Texas politicians and big oil and gas polluters,” stated Jason Rylander, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity.
Oil and gas companies have long warned that development restrictions due to the lizard’s endangered status could impede regional projects, a concern voiced before the recent settlement.
The reassessment of the lizard’s status is set to conclude within two years, according to the Wildlife Service. Previously, in 2012, a similar attempt to classify the lizard as endangered was blocked due to resistance from the Texas Comptroller and energy groups, who questioned the scientific evidence of threats facing the lizard.
This article, originally from The Texas Tribune, highlights the ongoing debates surrounding species protection and economic development in Texas.