The Center for Biological Diversity filed petitions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in late November to list the Owyhee hot springsnail and Owyhee upland pyrg of eastern Oregon under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The group says the snails are threatened by livestock grazing, recreation, invasive species and a warming climate.
“Because these snails live in such a remote corner of Oregon, they’re not getting the attention they deserve despite serious threats to their habitat, so action is crucial,” said Camila Cossío, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.
The Center for Biological Diversity also filed a lawsuit against the USFWS in 2020 to list the Pecos pupfish of the Pecos River Basin of New Mexico and Texas. On Nov. 21, the agency announced it would consider listing the species and is seeking comment on the proposal. Comments may be submitted through Jan. 21 at regulations.gov by searching for docket ID FWS-R2-ES-2024-0143.
