Endangered Species Law & Policy

On October 24, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) published a final rule listing the Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae) as a threatened species and the Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.  The Dakota skipper is found in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Manitoba and Sasketchewan, and that the Poweshiek skipperling is found in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Manitoba.  The Service determined that the Dakota skipper is likely to become endangered throughout all of its range within the foreseeable future and that the Poweshiek skipperling is presently in danger of extinction throughout its entire range.  According to the final rule, habitat loss and degradation of native prairies from agricultural conversation and other development, the indiscriminate use of pesticides, and the inadequacy of existing regulatory measures are among the primary threats affecting these species.

The final rule becomes effective November 24, 2014.  The full text of the rule is available here.