Wyoming Pocket Gopher: Denied ESA Protection

As the Wild Species Program Director for Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, based in Laramie Wyoming I filed on August 7, 2007 an Endangered Species Act (ESA) petition to protect the extremely rare Wyoming pocket gopher (Thomomys clusius). The Wyoming pocket gopher is the only vertebrate animal that occurs exclusively in the state of Wyoming. Its known distribution is restricted to two counties in the south-central portion of the state. In response to the petition, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued a positive 90-day finding but, citing insufficient science to demonstrate a significant threat, determined this rare burrowing mammal to be "Not Warranted" for ESA protection in its 12-month finding.

The agency issued its final decision with full knowledge of the information below. Fewer than 40 individuals of this species have been documented to exist since its discovery in 1875. Three oil and gas developments are either under way or slated for development in the near future. Three years (2008-2010) of rather intensive surveys by Wyoming Natural Diversity Database and other investigators has produced only about 20 individuals. As the author of the petition, I have no doubt that without ESA protection we will see these rare little earth conditioners perish from the earth forever. Biodiversity Conservation Alliance is continuing to fight to save this unique mammal. We can use all the help we can get to do so.