TULSA, OKLA. (KTUL) — Proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act under the Trump administration could significantly alter how wildlife and habitat are protected in Oklahoma, prompting concern from conservation experts who say the impacts could extend beyond animals to the state’s broader ecosystem.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering revisions that would roll back automatic protections for species listed as “threatened” and give the federal government more flexibility to avoid designating critical habitat based on economic, energy development or national security concerns.
Oklahoma is home to more than 20 endangered or threatened species, including whooping cranes, several species of bats, rare freshwater fish and mussels. Experts say those species, and others not yet listed, could face increased risks if the proposed rules are approved.
Conservation advocates warn the changes could accelerate habitat loss, which they say poses risks not only to wildlife but also to people.
“You have all this proof that especially freshwater species are giving back to us in terms of keeping our water clean,” said Tara Zuardo, a senior advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. “And then again, future generations won’t ever be able to see certain species or have them exist in their time.”
Freshwater mussels are one example experts point to in Oklahoma, particularly in the southeastern part of the state, where waterways support a high level of biodiversity.
“Southeast Oklahoma is just a huge swath of biodiversity in terms of your mussel populations,” Zuardo said. “They keep your rivers clean. They benefit humans.”
Cameron Seiler, director of the Oklahoma Biological Survey, said the proposed changes prioritize economic development over long-term environmental protection, potentially shifting costs onto the state.
“Our collective fear with these changes is that these proposed policies trade short-term easing of regulatory burdens for long-term ecological and societal costs,” Seiler said. “It shifts that burden onto Oklahoma, our land, our water resources and our wildlife.”
Seiler added that human health and wildlife health are closely connected and depend on maintaining healthy ecosystems.
“We live in Oklahoma too,” Seiler said. “We want to see Oklahoma thrive along with its biodiversity, recognizing that humans are one species in the ecosystem, and we need healthy ecosystems to survive.”
Both experts encourage Oklahomans to stay informed about the proposed rule changes and to contact their legislators, saying the decisions could have lasting impacts on the state’s biodiversity, ecosystems and public health.
