Proposed Rule To Delist the Douglas County Population of Columbian White-Tailed Deer

We (the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) propose to remove the Douglas County population of the Columbian white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus leucurus) from the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plant species (delist), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Two populations of this subspecies exist, one in Douglas County, Oregon, (Douglas County population), and the other in Columbia and Clatsop counties, Oregon, and Wahkiakum County, Washington (Columbia River population). The Columbian white-tailed deer was listed as endangered in 1967 under the Endangered Species Preservation Act, and subsequently listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended (Act). The Douglas County population has increased from a low of fewer than 300 deer in 1940 to a current total of about 5,500 deer. The range of this population also has increased. Habitat has been secured and/or protected for the population, enabling it to increase in numbers and range to the point where a change in status is appropriate. The Douglas County population of Columbian white-tailed deer meets the recovery plan's criteria for delisting. The Columbia River population numbers meet the criteria for downlisting to threatened, but do not presently meet the objectives for secure habitat needed to delist the population. We anticipate another proposed rule in the future to downlist this population. This proposed rule includes a proposed 5-year post-delisting monitoring plan for the Douglas County population as required for species that are delisted due to recovery. Monitoring will include population trends and productivity.