Federal agency won't list butterfly as endangered

Posted at: 09/02/2009 10:23 AM By: SUE MAJOR HOLMES, Associated Press Writer

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly does not warrant listing as an endangered species and protection of its habitat.

The agency published its finding Wednesday in the Federal Register.

Officials said they identified no current significant threats to the 2-inch butterfly and that none of the factors that could threaten it were likely to increase in the foreseeable future.

A spokeswoman for WildEarth Guardians, Nicole Rosmarino, calls the finding the worst possible outcome for the butterfly.

She says federal officials are shirking their duty to protect the butterfly.

Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Charna Lefton says the agency did its research and found the listing is not warranted at this time.

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