The Carson wandering skipper butterfly received an
emergency listing as an endangered species in November
2001 because of a listing petition by the Xerces Society,
and a negotiated settlement between the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service and the Center for Biological Diversity.
The Service has proposed to make the listing permanent,
but is being opposed by Lassen County where the butterfly
resides. A new comment period has been initiated to
allow the county and others to voice their opinion.
The Carson wandering skipper is currently known from
only two populations, one in Washoe County, Nevada,
and the other in Lassen County, California. There was
another population near Carson City, Nevada, which
recently was lost due to development activities at
the site. According to two reports authored by Peter
Brussard, a professor at University of Nevada, Reno,
the butterfly is at tremendous risk of extinction at
its two remaining sites due to livestock grazing, off
road vehicle activity, encroaching development, changes
in the water table, and pesticide drift.
Please write a letter today, supporting complete Endangered
Species Act protection for the Carson wandering skipper.
The comment period closes June 6.
If you choose to write an email, please write "Carson
wandering skipper Endangered Species listing" in the
subject line.
Robert D. Williams
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1340 Financial Boulevard, Suite 234,
Reno, Nevada 89502
fw1renoskipper@r1.fws.gov
Sample letter:
Dear Mr. Williams:
Thank you and the Fish and Wildlife Service for your
emergency listing action for the Carson Wandering Skipper,
Pseudocopaeodes eunus obscurus. We support formal listing
of this species under the Endangered Species Act.
The Carson wandering skipper is currently known from
only two populations, one in Washoe County, Nevada,
and one in Lassen County, California. Two recent reports
by Peter F. Brussard clearly show that the current
status of the butterfly warrants an Endangered Species
listing and all the protection that would provide.
Extinction of this butterfly could occur from naturally
occurring events or other threats due to the small,
isolated nature of the remaining populations. The sites
where viable populations are still found are at risk
due to livestock grazing, OHV activity, encroaching
development, changes in the water table and pesticide
drift.
I believe the Carson wandering skipper should get full
protection under the Endangered Species Act and a recovery
plan should be developed that will recover the species.
Critical habitat should also be designated for protection
of the species.
For more information: http://www.xerxes.org , or contact
Scott Hoffman Black (503) 534-2706 or sblack@xerxes.org.