The sprawling Weaver Ranch near Causey, NM, is located in important Lesser Prairie-Chicken habitat. Ranch manager Willard Heck talks about removing 400-500 acres of mesquite plant that had encroached onto prairie land, fragmenting the bird's habitat. A three-year drought has impeded the bird from thriving, but Heck thinks the chicken's population is increasing on the ranch.
This episode of Playa Country is the third in a three-part series on the lesser prairie-chicken and their aversion to vertical structures. It originally aired July 16, 2013.