“Fossil Creek is one of the Southwest’s most biologically precious river reaches,” said Jay Lininger, a senior scientist with the Center. “The ruling is a victory for this beautiful creek, native wildlife and public investments made to recover them.”
Grazing in stream corridors harms critical habitat of threatened Chiricahua leopard frogs by impeding their movement among breeding sites, according to the court’s opinion released late Friday. Livestock “spend a disproportionate amount of their time in riparian zones,” and grazing can eliminate vegetation cover as well as spread disease, according to the ruling.
“The ruling is significant because it will help protect the last known population of Chiricahua leopard frogs on the Red Rock Ranger District,” said Todd Tucci, a senior attorney at Advocates for the West who argued the case on behalf of the Center.
“Fossil Creek and its native wildlife need better protection from heavily subsidized cattle grazing that clearly damages this special place,” said Lininger. “We’re glad the court is demanding a course correction.”
Download a copy of the ruling.
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