The proposed critical habitat would span 1,636 acres, comprising 1,094 acres in the Lincoln National Forest, 521 acres of private land and 22 acres owned by the Mescalero Apache Tribe. USFWS is proposing nine habitat areas, two of which are occupied by the butterfly. The agency contends the remaining habitat areas contain the necessary resources to support the checkerspot butterfly and were the species’ historical range.
The Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly is native to the region in southcentral New Mexico and inhabits high-altitude meadows at elevations between 7,800-9,000 feet. The butterfly is checkered with dark brown, red, orange, cream and black spots, punctuated with dark lines.
According to the proposal, since 1998, the butterfly has been extirpated from 10 meadows due to development, and in 2020, only eight butterflies were detected in two of the meadows. The butterfly was listed as endangered on Jan. 31.
“The features essential to the conservation of this species may require special management considerations or protection to reduce the following threats: incompatible grazing by large ungulates, recreation, invasive and nonnative plants, climate change (i.e., drought, altered precipitation regime), and altered fire regime,” the proposal states.
USFWS proposes erecting fencing, growing and transplanting nectar sources, managing invasive species, minimizing recreational use, and instituting fire management practices to protect the species and the habitat areas. Additionally, the agency proposes establishing new populations in suitable habitats through captive rearing and reintroduction or translocation.
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) praised USFWS’ decision to designate critical habitat. The group petitioned USFWS to list the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly as endangered in 1999, 2007 and most recently, in 2021.
“These beautiful and irreplaceable butterflies are barely clinging to existence because of bad decisions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” said Michael Robinson, senior conservation advocate at CBD. “I’m so glad they’re finally getting protection for their habitat. I hope it’s not too late.”
Comments can be made through Oct. 10 either electronically through www.regulations.govby searching for FWS-R2-ES-2023-0023, or hard copy to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2023-0023, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
