Endangered Species Law & Policy

The recent California wildfires have been devastating.  But it is during such times of devastation that we also get to see the good in people.  We see communities coming together, and support from around the State.  As reported by a number of news agencies, that support has extended to not just people, but also pets.  There are stories with pictures of police officers corralling pot belly pigs, horses being guided through smoke and flames, and dogs and cats being rescued by a variety of organizations.  However, it isn't just people and pets who called these places home.  Wildlife can also be severely impacted by wildfires.  For example, in 2003 wildfires that raged in southern California destroyed habitat for the coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica), least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus), the southern California mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa), and the Quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino), all of which are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.  For the benefit of people, their pets, and the surrounding wildlife, we hope that our brave firefighters are able to extinguish these fires as quickly as possible.