Tiny Lizard could block Texas oil and gas exploration

Submitted by Ken Eyring on

June 18, 2011

By Anna M. Tinsley | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Deep in the West Texas sand dunes is something that some say could threaten the state's oil and gas production:  A tiny lizard.  But it's not just any lizard: It's a dunes sagebrush lizard, also known as the sand dune lizard.  This little brown reptile is a concern for state officials, who hope that federal officials don't designate it an endangered species. That, they say, could disrupt oil and gas exploration in the heart of Texas' oil country, leading to higher gas prices and shrinking dollars for schools.