Fish and Wildlife Service Conducts Five-year Status Reviews of 18 Florida Species

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2008

Contacts:
Tom R. MacKenzie (404) 679-7291, tom_mackenzie@fws.gov

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to conduct five-year status reviews of 18 threatened and endangered species that occur mostly in Florida, including a mammal, a fish, a bird, a snail, and 14 plants.

A five-year review is conducted to ensure that a listing classification under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is 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 June 16, 2008.

This notice covers an endangered mammal, the Key Largo cotton mouse, and 11 endangered plants: four-petal pawpaw; Florida golden aster; Apalachicola rosemary; Okeechobee gourd; beautiful pawpaw; Garrett’s mint; scrub mint; Harper’s beauty; gentian pinkroot; scrub plum; and Florida ziziphus. This notice also covers six species listed as threatened: Audubon’s crested caracara (bird), Gulf sturgeon (fish), Stock Island tree snail, white birds in a nest (plant), Godfrey’s butterwort (plant), and Florida skullcap (plant).

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.

The Federal Register notice announcing the status review of these 18 federally listed species is available online http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/E8-8124.html.

Written comments and information on the Florida golden aster and scrub plum may be emailed to Sandy_MacPherson@fws.gov, faxed to 904-232-2404, or sent via regular mail to Sandy MacPherson, Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216.

Written comments and information on the Key Largo cotton mouse, Audubon’s crested caracara, Stock Island tree snail, four-petal pawpaw, Okeechobee gourd, Garrett’s mint, scrub mint, beautiful pawpaw, and Florida ziziphus may be emailed to Cindy_Schulz@fws.gov, faxed to 772-562-4288, or sent via regular mail to Cindy Schulz, South Florida Ecological Services Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, 32960.

Written comments and information on the Gulf sturgeon, Apalachicola rosemary, Harper’s beauty, white birds in a nest, Godfrey’s butterwort, Florida skullcap, and gentian pinkroot may be emailed to Janet_Mizzi@fws.gov, faxed to 850-763-2177, or sent via regular mail to Janet Mizzi, Panama City Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Florida, 32405.

Information received in response to this notice of review will be available for public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at the same addresses.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Visit http://www.fws.gov/southeast/ or http://www.fws.gov/