The Department of the Interior is proposing to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule, aligning with Secretary Doug Burgum’s commitment to restoring balance in federal land management by prioritizing multiple-use access, empowering local decision-making and supporting responsible energy development, ranching, grazing, timber production and recreation across America’s public lands.

The 2024 Public Lands Rule, formally known as the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, made conservation (i.e., no use) an official use of public lands, putting it on the same level as BLM’s other uses of public lands. The previous administration had treated conservation as “no use,” meaning the land was to be left idle rather than authorizing legitimate uses of the land like grazing, energy development or recreation. However, stakeholders, including the energy industry, recreational users and agricultural producers, across the country expressed deep concern that the rule created regulatory uncertainty, reduced access to lands, and undermined the long-standing multiple-use mandate of the BLM as established by Congress. Now, the BLM proposes to rescind this rule in full.

“The previous administration’s Public Lands Rule had the potential to block access to hundreds of thousands of acres of multiple-use land – preventing energy and mineral production, timber management, grazing and recreation across the West,” said Secretary Doug Burgum. “The most effective caretakers of our federal lands are those whose livelihoods rely on its well-being. Overturning this rule protects our American way of life and gives our communities a voice in the land that they depend on.”

The Public Lands Rule exceeded the BLM’s statutory authority by placing an outsized priority on conservation or no-use at the expense of multiple-use access, threatening to curtail grazing, energy development, recreation and other traditional land uses. Many rural communities depend on public lands for livelihoods tied to agriculture, mining and energy production. Rescinding the rule restores BLM to its legal mandate and protects these economic drivers from restrictive land-use policies.  The people who depend on public lands for their livelihoods have every incentive to conserve them and have been doing so for generations—no new rule was needed to force what is already a way of life.

By proposing to roll back the Public Lands Rule, Interior is committed to no longer sidelining local voices by returning more authority back to states, counties and tribes who are directly impacted by the management of public lands. Additionally, rescinding the rule eliminates uncertainty for industry stakeholder concerning potential litigation risks and permitting delays. Consistent with Secretary’s Order 3418, “Unleashing American Energy,” the rescission of the Public Lands Rule will eliminate unnecessary barriers to energy development and support the multiple-use mandate of the BLM by not prioritizing conservation over all other uses.

From the date that the Federal Register notice publishes, a 60-day comment period will open on the proposed rule rescission.

By Bureau of Land Management

Something strange is happening on the plains of Kansas. Picture this: you’re driving down a country road, and out of nowhere, a strange, armored creature scuttles across your headlights. No, it isn’t a prehistoric relic or a visitor from another world—it’s an armadillo! Once a rare sight, these quirky animals are now popping up everywhere in Kansas, leaving locals surprised, confused, and sometimes even a little unsettled. But why are armadillos suddenly marching north into the Sunflower State? The answer is as bizarre and fascinating as the creatures themselves.

The Unexpected Arrival of a Southern Wanderer

Just a few decades ago, spotting an armadillo in Kansas would have been the stuff of tall tales. Native to South and Central America, the nine-banded armadillo was historically a creature of the warm, humid south. Now, however, sightings have exploded in Kansas, with reports from city parks, rural fields, and even suburban backyards. This sudden arrival has caught many Kansans off guard, sparking both fascination and fear. The armadillo’s odd appearance—with its bony shell and tendency to jump when startled—has even inspired urban legends and social media buzz across the state.

Climate Change: The Great Enabler

One of the primary reasons for the armadillo’s invasion is the shifting climate. Winters in Kansas have become milder over recent years, with fewer deep freezes that would once have killed off these warm-weather creatures. Armadillos are highly sensitive to cold, so as the average temperature rises, their range steadily expands northward. Scientists point to climate records showing a clear trend: as frosty nights decrease, the armadillo’s playground grows. This is a vivid example of how even modest climate shifts can trigger surprising ripple effects in wildlife populations.

Highways to the Heartland

Armadillos aren’t just wandering north by accident—they’re following the ribbons of highways, railways, and cleared land humans have carved through the landscape. These corridors make it easier for armadillos to travel long distances, avoiding dense forests or impassable prairies. As Kansas’s infrastructure has grown, so too has the opportunity for armadillos to explore new territory. Observers have even noted that freshly built roads seem to act like armadillo superhighways, quickly drawing them into regions where they were never seen before.

Food and Survival: The Kansas Buffet

Kansas offers the perfect menu for a hungry armadillo. With its abundance of insects, grubs, and worms, the state’s soil is a smorgasbord for these natural foragers. Armadillos use their keen sense of smell to locate food underground, rooting through lawns and gardens with their pig-like snouts. This has been great for armadillos but less so for Kansas homeowners, who sometimes wake up to find their yards riddled with holes. Yet, the rich pickings mean armadillos are thriving and multiplying at an astonishing rate.

Surprising Adaptations and Resilience

What makes armadillos such successful invaders? For starters, they are incredibly adaptable. Their tough armor protects them from most predators, and their ability to dig allows them to create burrows for shelter. Armadillos also have a quirky reproductive strategy: each litter is made up of genetically identical quadruplets, boosting their numbers quickly. These traits, combined with their insatiable curiosity and willingness to explore, have helped them survive—and even flourish—in Kansas’s changing landscape.

The Human Reaction: Fear, Fascination, and Frustration

The arrival of armadillos has sparked a whirlwind of emotions among Kansans. Some people are delighted to see such an unusual animal in their backyard, quickly snapping photos and sharing stories online. Others feel uneasy, worried about the damage to gardens, golf courses, and even the risk of disease—since armadillos are known carriers of leprosy bacteria, though the risk to humans is extremely low. Still, the shock of seeing an “alien” creature in familiar surroundings has stirred up excitement and anxiety in equal measure.

Impact on Local Wildlife and Ecosystems

The appearance of armadillos in Kansas is more than just a curiosity; it has real consequences for local ecosystems. Armadillos compete with native animals like skunks, raccoons, and opossums for food and shelter. Their digging can disrupt the habitats of insects and small ground-nesting birds. Scientists are watching closely to see if the armadillo’s presence will tip the balance of Kansas’s intricate web of life. In some cases, armadillos may even help by eating pests, but their long-term impact remains uncertain.

Ten people from around the state have been recognized by the Kansas Sampler Foundation in 2025 for their efforts to preserve and sustain rural culture.

The Kansas Sampler Foundation, an Inman-based non-profit, has been presenting We Kan! award plates since 1993. Recipients are chosen from the We Kan! network which is made up of community leaders, doers, entrepreneurs, volunteers and rural advocates, including those involved in state government, who desire to help rural communities be the best they can be at being themselves.

The ten to receive awards in 2025 were Cheryl Adelhardt, Harper (You’ve Given Your All); Kylee Bergstrom, Seneca (Yo, VIP, You’re Kicking It); Steve and Jane Fry, Elk Falls (For Lifting All); Caryl Hale, Norton (Your Open Heart); Shelly Hansel, Harper County (Loud and Proud); Sarah Kessinger, Marysville (Front and Center); Nick Levendofsky, Courtland (Secretary of Swagriculture); Susan McKenzie, White City (Whatever is Needed); Trisha Purdon, Independence (You’re Our Rural Champion); and Laura and Kaydee Riggs-Johnson, Winfield (Making Kansas Cool as Heck).

Director Marci Penner said, “These are people who are making intentional and extra efforts to help improve their communities or lives of their constituents. Because they don’t seek credit for their contributions, the manner in which we bring family and friends together to surprise them with the award, in their home environment, makes it a special event.”

The artist of the individual award plates if Stacy Barnes of Greensburg.

To see a list of all previous We Kan! award winners go to kansassampler.org.