The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a final rule to list a subspecies of the silverspot butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The listing follows a public comment period and peer-reviewed species status assessment.
The subspecies in question is documented in 10 populations across southwestern Colorado, eastern Utah and northern New Mexico, USFWS said.
In addition to the threatened status, USFWS has developed an accompanying Section 4(d) rule, which will allow more flexibility with land management. Incidental take is allowed if the activities are done in a conservation compatible manner, such as livestock grazing, haying or mowing, prescribed burning fence maintenance or similar activities.
