Kansas Joins Oklahoma In Lawsuit On Lesser Prairie Chicken Regulation

The state of Kansas has joined Oklahoma in a lawsuit challenging the process used by the federal government to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt's office announced Wednesday that Kansas has become part of a case filed in federal court in Oklahoma.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt news release

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt filed the lawsuit in February before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formally listed the lesser prairie chicken as threatened.

State of Oklahoma v. U.S. Department of Interior

Kansas officials contend that the listing isn't necessary because the five states with lesser prairie chicken habitats have developed a conservation plan. They are Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the lesser prairie chicken's population has decline dramatically since 2012.

3/28/2014 Related Story: Feds List Lesser Prairie Chicken As Threatened, OK Governor Disappointed With Decision

The Associated Press contributed to this report.