Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate NEWS NOW Haggen adds Ashland store to list of closures ... Attacker's no-show at sentencing leaves victim without closure ... Monical sentenced to 32 years in federal bank robbery case ... Haggen adds Ashland store to list of closures ... Attacker's no-show at sentencing leaves victim without closure ... Monical sentenced to 32 years in federal bank robbery case ... NATURE Fish and Wildlife denies protection for Crater Lake butterfly Leona's little blue butterfly lives in 13-square-mile area Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 24, 2015 at 3:11 PM Posted Jun. 24, 2015 at 3:11 PM » Social News The Associated Press A rare butterfly species only known to inhabit one small tract of land near Crater Lake will not be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Monday that the Leona's little blue butterfly will not receive the protection that has been requested by wildlife organizations since 2010, reports the Herald and News. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and Oregon Wild petitioned the USFWS for the protections in 2010 and filed another complaint three years later, that time including the U.S. Department of the Interior. "We are disappointed that the Fish and Wildlife Service declined to protect Leona's little blue butterfly as an endangered species," said Sarina Jepsen, the endangered species program director for the Xerces Society. The tiny butterfly lives only in an area of less than 13 square miles of the Antelope Desert, she said. With a range that small, a single event could wipe out the species. Leona's little blue butterfly, known scientifically as Philotiella leona, lives in volcanic ash and pumice fields east of Crater Lake National park. It is less than three-quarters of an inch long, but is actually the largest of the tiny genus Philotiella. The butterfly can have blue, brown or white wings with black spots. It was discovered in 1995 by Harold and Leona Rice, according to the Xerces Society website. After evaluating a range of threats, including those associated with small and isolated populations, the USFWS concluded that threats against Leona's little blue butterfly don't warrant giving the species protected status. It is, however, included on a list of sensitive species — meaning that the U.S. Forest Service will avoid or minimize impacts to the butterfly on its lands. "Since 2010 we've worked with landowners and partners to complete additional surveys, increasing our understanding of the distribution and habitat needs for Leona's little blue butterfly," said Laurie Sada, field supervisor of the Klamath Falls USFWS office. The USFWS has been working with the U.S. Forest Service to conserve the butterfly and its habitat, according to documents. The range of Leona's little blue butterfly was initially believed to be only six square miles, but wildlife managers later determined that it is double that size. Its population estimate has also increased tenfold, from about 2,000 to approximately 20,000 individuals. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 24, 2015 at 3:11 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501