The annul evaluation of current plants and animals considered as a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was recently released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the new 2010 candidates. Although one species has been removed from the candidate status altogether, five species have been added, along with several changes in candidate priorities. Overall, the November 2010 Service release has totaled 251 species as candidates for ESA protection.
According to the Service's press release, the newly recognized five candidate species the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has added to the notice are: the Kentucky arrow darter (KY); Rosemont talussnail (AZ); Kenk’s amphipod (DC, MD); Packard’s milkvetch (ID); and the Vandenberg monkeyflower (CA). Also according to the press release, the one species candidate removed from last year’s list is the Palm Springs round-tailed ground squirrel.
This article appears in Nov 11-17, 2010.