USFWS proposes listing wolverines as threatened
On Friday, Feb. 1, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it is proposing to list the wolverine as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
The proposed rule states that habitat loss due to increasing temperatures and reduced late spring snow pack due to climate change is likely to have a significant negative population-level impact on wolverine populations in the contiguous United States.
In the future, wolverine habitat is likely to be reduced to the point that the wolverine in the contiguous U.S. is in danger of extinction.
The proposed rule would not affect recreation, timber harvest or other activities if the wolverine is listed as threatened.
According to a press release by USFWS, it does not consider most activities occurring within the high elevation habitat of the wolverine, including snowmobiling and back country skiing, and land management activities like timber harvesting and infrastructure development, to constitute significant threats to the wolverine.
“Scientific evidence suggests that a warming climate will greatly reduce the wolverine’s snow pack habitat,” said Noreen Walsh, director of the USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region.
The USFWS’s announcement initiates the public comment period which begins on Feb. 4. The USFWS is seeking information from the scientific community and the public on the proposal to list the wolverines, along with comment on two proposed special rules.
Under the proposal rule, hunting and trapping of the wolverine would be prohibited. Montana is the only state in which wolverines can be harvested in the Lower 48. The press release states that the USFWS is seeking input on the appropriateness of prohibiting incidental take of wolverine in the course of legal trapping activities directed at other species.
One of the special rules in the proposal would facilitate the potential reintroduction of the species in its historical range in Colorado. Currently, established breeding wolverines occur in Washington, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and a small portion of Oregon.
The other special rule would allow the above mentioned recreation and land management activities to continue if the wolverine is listed as threatened.
If the proposed rule is finalized, the wolverine would be protected as a threatened species in the Lower 48 states as a distinct population segment.
USFWS finds that critical habitat is not determinable at this time, as the agency needs additional time to assess the potential impact of a critical habitat designation and to identify specific areas that may be appropriate for critical habitat designation.
The USFWS seeks comments on the reasons they should or should not designate critical habitat for the wolverine, and what specific areas might be considered for designation.
The 90-day comment period on the proposed rule and two special rules will end May 6, 2013. A draft Recovery Outline will also be available for comments. During this comment period, the USFWS will be seeking peer review from the scientific community to ensure the final decision is based on solid science.
For more information on the proposed rule, submission of comments and public hearings, visit www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolverine/.