Threatened Preble's mouse could get 18,462 more acres of protection

A new federal push to protect 18,462 Front Range acres as habitat for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse has set off an endangered-species battle royale. Wildlife conservationists cheered the release Wednesday of the new federal proposal, which could limit development on the land, mostly along 184 miles of rivers and streams. Representatives of developers promised a court challenge, arguing that protecting more habitat isn't necessary because the mouse itself already is protected as a threatened species. Among projects that could be affected: the planned Jeffco Parkway southeast of Rocky Flats, an expansion of Chatfield Reservoir and housing developments in El Paso County along tributaries of Monument Creek. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to nearly double the current 20,680 acres of protected habitat for the mouse — a bug-loving brown omnivore that springs up as high as 3 feet to evade predators...read more