Contacts

Tom MacKenzie, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, 404/679-7291

Fish and Wildlife Service Conducts Five-year Status Review of 10 Endangered Species in Florida

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced plans to conduct a five-year status review of 10 endangered species in Florida.

This five-year review is conducted to ensure that listing classifications under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are accurate. Any interested party is invited to provide information and comments pertaining to these species. Written comments and information related to this five-year review must be received by August 22, 2005.

The notice covers 10 species including the Florida panther, Key deer, St. Andrew beach mouse, Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Okaloosa darter; and five plants: beach jacquemontia, deltoid spurge, fringed campion, Small?s milkpea, and tiny polygala. This periodic five-year review is conducted to ensure that listing classifications under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are accurate.

Specifically, this review seeks information on: (1) species biology, including population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat conditions, including amount, distribution, and suitability; (3) conservation measures that have been implemented; (4) threat status and trends; and (5) other new information, data, or corrections, including taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of erroneous information contained in the ESA list, and improved analytical methods. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection by appointment.

In addition to reviewing the classification of these species, a five-year review presents an opportunity to track the species? recovery progress. It may benefit species by providing valuable information to guide future conservation efforts. Information gathered during a review can assist in making funding decisions, conducting interagency consultations, making permitting decisions, and determining whether to update recovery plans, and other actions under the ESA.

Written comments and information may be sent: by e-mail for the St. Andrew beach mouse, Okaloosa darter, and fringed campion to janet_mizzi@fws.gov, faxed to (850) 763-2177, or sent via regular mail to Deputy Field Supervisor, Panama City Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida, 32405; or for the remaining seven species to cindy_schulz@fws.gov, faxed to (772) 562-4288 or sent via regular mail to Field Supervisor, South Florida Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, 32960.

The Federal Register notice announcing this status review of 10 federally listed species is available on-line at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-12187.htm

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

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