Well folks, it is happening! The wolverine has officially been proposed to be listed as "Threatened" and the process for controlling their destiny begins.
Here is the link for the official statement from US Fish & Wildlife: https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2...s-federal-protection-threatened-species-under
The land representative for the Idaho State Snowmobile Association (ISSA) just sent me this statement:
What this document does. This document is both (1)a final rule listing the contiguous U.S. DPS (Distinct Population Segment) of the North American wolverine as a threatened species under the Act; and (2) an interim rule issued under the authority of section 4(d) of the Act (an “interim 4(d) rule”) providing the prohibitions, and exceptions to those prohibitions, that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the contiguous U.S. DPS of the North American wolverine. The basis for our action. Under the Act, we may determine that a species is an endangered or threatened species because of any of five factors: (A) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; (B) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence. We have determined that the contiguous U.S. DPS of the North American wolverine is a threatened species due primarily to the ongoing and increasing impacts of climate change and associated habitat degradation and fragmentation. Section 4(a)(3) of the Act requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to designate critical habitat concurrent with listing to the maximum extent prudent and determinable. We have not yet obtained the necessary economic information needed to develop a proposed critical habitat designation for the contiguous U.S. DPS of the North American wolverine. Therefore, we find that designation of critical habitat for the DPS is currently not determinable. Interim 4(d) Rule The need for the regulatory action and how the action will meet that need. Consistent with section 4(d) of the Act, this interim 4(d) rule provides measures that are tailored to our current understanding of the conservation needs of the North American wolverine. Under section 4(d) of the Act, the Secretary of the Interior has discretion to issue such regulations as she deems necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the species. The Secretary also has the discretion to prohibit by regulation with respect to a threatened species, any act prohibited by section 9(a)(1) of the Act. Summary of the major provisions of the regulatory action. This interim 4(d) rule will provide for the conservation of the contiguous U.S. DPS of the North American wolverine by prohibiting the following activities, unless they fall within the specific identified exceptions or are otherwise authorized or permitted: importing or exporting; take; possession and other acts with unlawfully taken specimens; delivering, receiving, carrying, transporting, or shipping in interstate or foreign commerce in the course of commercial activity; or selling or offering for sale in interstate or foreign commerce. The interim 4(d) rule will also provide for the conservation of the species by allowing exceptions to the general prohibitions against “take” of the species in support of conservation actions and otherwise lawful activities that could take wolverines but at minimal levels not likely to have a negative impact on the species’ conservation. The exceptions include take due to scientific research conducted on wolverines by a Federal or Tribal biologist in the course of their official duties, incidental take resulting from forest management activities for the purposes of reducing the risk or severity of wildfire, and incidental take resulting from legal trapping conducted consistent with State and Tribal trapping rules or guidelines that contain steps to minimize the potential for capture of wolverine.
FYI:
The difference between threatened and endangered species is:
· Endangered species are those plants and animals that have become so rare they are in danger of becoming extinct.
· Threatened species are plants and animals that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
· Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), plant and animal species may be listed as either endangered or threatened.
Here is the link for the official statement from US Fish & Wildlife: https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2...s-federal-protection-threatened-species-under
The land representative for the Idaho State Snowmobile Association (ISSA) just sent me this statement:
What this document does. This document is both (1)a final rule listing the contiguous U.S. DPS (Distinct Population Segment) of the North American wolverine as a threatened species under the Act; and (2) an interim rule issued under the authority of section 4(d) of the Act (an “interim 4(d) rule”) providing the prohibitions, and exceptions to those prohibitions, that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the contiguous U.S. DPS of the North American wolverine. The basis for our action. Under the Act, we may determine that a species is an endangered or threatened species because of any of five factors: (A) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; (B) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence. We have determined that the contiguous U.S. DPS of the North American wolverine is a threatened species due primarily to the ongoing and increasing impacts of climate change and associated habitat degradation and fragmentation. Section 4(a)(3) of the Act requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to designate critical habitat concurrent with listing to the maximum extent prudent and determinable. We have not yet obtained the necessary economic information needed to develop a proposed critical habitat designation for the contiguous U.S. DPS of the North American wolverine. Therefore, we find that designation of critical habitat for the DPS is currently not determinable. Interim 4(d) Rule The need for the regulatory action and how the action will meet that need. Consistent with section 4(d) of the Act, this interim 4(d) rule provides measures that are tailored to our current understanding of the conservation needs of the North American wolverine. Under section 4(d) of the Act, the Secretary of the Interior has discretion to issue such regulations as she deems necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the species. The Secretary also has the discretion to prohibit by regulation with respect to a threatened species, any act prohibited by section 9(a)(1) of the Act. Summary of the major provisions of the regulatory action. This interim 4(d) rule will provide for the conservation of the contiguous U.S. DPS of the North American wolverine by prohibiting the following activities, unless they fall within the specific identified exceptions or are otherwise authorized or permitted: importing or exporting; take; possession and other acts with unlawfully taken specimens; delivering, receiving, carrying, transporting, or shipping in interstate or foreign commerce in the course of commercial activity; or selling or offering for sale in interstate or foreign commerce. The interim 4(d) rule will also provide for the conservation of the species by allowing exceptions to the general prohibitions against “take” of the species in support of conservation actions and otherwise lawful activities that could take wolverines but at minimal levels not likely to have a negative impact on the species’ conservation. The exceptions include take due to scientific research conducted on wolverines by a Federal or Tribal biologist in the course of their official duties, incidental take resulting from forest management activities for the purposes of reducing the risk or severity of wildfire, and incidental take resulting from legal trapping conducted consistent with State and Tribal trapping rules or guidelines that contain steps to minimize the potential for capture of wolverine.
FYI:
The difference between threatened and endangered species is:
· Endangered species are those plants and animals that have become so rare they are in danger of becoming extinct.
· Threatened species are plants and animals that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
· Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), plant and animal species may be listed as either endangered or threatened.
Last edited:
