Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Kansas
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Lesser prairie-chickens are sensitive to disturbances on the landscape - especially grazing and fire. Understanding the response of lesser prairie-chickens to a variety of grazing and prescribed fire practices are important for conservation planning.
Prescribed fire and grazing management are critical tools for managing lesser prairie-chickens. Landowners might be able to use these tools for management of lesser prairie-chicken populations. This research is a collaborative effort among the Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Kansas Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, and NRCS Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative. Lesser prairie-chickens do benefit from heterogeneity of vegetation created by patch-burn grazing. Grazing intensity influences habitat selection by lesser prairie-chickens.