12-Month Finding on a Petition To List a Distinct Population Segment of the Red Tree Vole as Endangered or Threatened

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list a distinct population segment of the red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) as endangered or threatened and to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Petition provided three listing options for the Service to consider: Listing the dusky tree vole subspecies throughout its range; listing the North Oregon Coast population of the red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) as a distinct population segment (DPS); or listing the red tree vole because it is endangered or threatened in a significant portion of its range. After review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we have determined that listing the North Oregon Coast population of the red tree vole as a DPS is warranted. However, the development of a proposed listing rule is precluded by higher priority actions to amend the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Upon publication of this 12-month petition finding, we will add this DPS of the red tree vole to our candidate species list. We will develop a proposed rule to list this DPS of the red tree vole as our priorities allow. We will make any determination on critical habitat during development of the proposed listing rule. In any interim period, we will address the status of the candidate taxon through our annual Candidate Notice of Review (CNOR).