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Four Oregon species are one step closer to protection under the Endangered Species Act.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found Monday that the Cascade red fox, the Goose Lake lamprey, the Goose Lake sucker and the Goose Lake tui chub may need protection under the act, according to a press release from the Center for Biological Diversity.
Three of the four Oregon species are found only at Goose Lake, an alkaline lake that sits on the border between Oregon and California.
The four Oregon species were among seven species the agency announced may need protection under the act.
The other species are the diamondback terrapin, the loopy five firefly and the plains spotted skunk.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now requesting “scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the species and factors that may affect their status,” the agency said in its report.
“Based on the status reviews,” the report said, “we will issue 12-month petition findings, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act.”
The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to add the four species to the list. But the group said Monday that adding the species may not be enough to save them, especially in light of a new rule from President Donald Trump’s administration that eliminated some key protections for endangered species.
The new rule allows for oil and gas drilling along with other development in habitats of endangered animals as long as the animals aren’t killed or injured.
“While I’m glad our petitions were accepted, the Cascade red fox and these three fish face major threats to their habitat, and Trump’s new rule means these imperiled animals and many others might not get protections for the places they live,” Noah Greenwald, endangered species codirector at the center, said in the press release.
“You can’t protect fish and foxes without protecting the lakes, forests and meadows they call home,” Greenwald added. “We’ll absolutely challenge Trump’s rule in court.”
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