USFWS initiates status review for 4 species in AZ, NM, TX & OK

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces it is initiating status reviews for the Arizona toad, Cascade Caverns salamander, Rio Grande cooter (a turtle) and Alligator snapping turtle in response to a July 2012 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity. Today’s decision is commonly referred to as a 90-day finding.

In the case of the Arizona toad, Cascade Caverns salamander, Rio Grande cooter and Alligator snapping turtle the Service has determined the petition presented substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that these species may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. The announcement begins a 60-day information collection period which closes on August 31, 2015.

The findings do not mean that the Service has decided to grant federal protections to these species. Rather, the findings trigger a more thorough review of all the biological information available for the species. To ensure the status reviews are comprehensive, the Service is looking for information from the public. The Service is seeking information about the species’ biology, range, and population trends, including habitat requirements; genetics and taxonomy; historical and current range including distribution patters; historical and current population levels; current and projected trends; and past and ongoing conservation measures for the species, its habitat, or both.

Information on the distribution of the four Southwest species undergoing a status review is below:

• Alligator snapping turtle – 15 states, including Texas and Oklahoma - FWS–R4–ES–2015–0038

• Arizona toad – Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah - FWS–R2–ES–2015–0040

• Cascade Caverns salamander – Texas - FWS–R2–ES–2015–0045

• Rio Grande cooter – New Mexico, Texas and Mexico - FWS–R2–ES–2015–0061

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