U.S. agency denies protection for rare Crater Lake butterfly

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Monday that a butterfly species only known to inhabit one small tract of land in Klamath County will not receive protection under the Endangered Species Act. In May 2010, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and Oregon Wild petitioned the USFWS to give Leona’s little blue butterfly ESA protections. Three years later, in 2013, both organizations filed another complaint against USFWS, this time including the U.S. Department of the Interior as well. The complaint stated Leona’s butterfly was in danger of becoming extinct. According to a news release, wildlife managers evaluated the species for threats such as wildfire, climate change, timber management, fire suppression, invasive plants, timber encroachment and effects associated with small and isolated populations. Based on the best information and data available, the USFWS concluded the threats do not warrant giving the species protected status. “Since 2010 we’ve worked with landowners and partners to complete additional surveys, increasing our understanding of the distribution and habitat needs for Leona’s little blue butterfly,” said Laurie Sada, field supervisor of the Klamath Falls USFWS office. Documents now say the species range is 12.8 square miles, and its population estimate has increased from about 2,000 individuals to approximately 20,000 individuals...more