The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that a petition by the Institute for Wildlife Protection does not present substantial information to list the western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus) as an endangered species. Endangered means the species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
The Service evaluated the petition based on the best scientific and commercial information available, including material provided by the petitioners and materials in the Services files. The Service published its finding in the Federal Register today.
In a petition, the Service looks for a detailed justification that provides past and present numbers, distribution and range of the species involved, and that describes any threats faced by the species. In this case, the Service found that the petition and other available data were not substantial to determine the habitat requirements of the western gray squirrel and whether there are continued threats to this species.
The western gray squirrel is the largest native tree squirrel in the Pacific Northwest. It is silver gray on the back and creamy white on the underside. The long bushy tail is edged with white, but dark hairs in the tail give it a pepper-gray frost effect. The ears are long, with a light reddish brown area on the back, and are not tufted. Other common names include the silver gray squirrel, California gray squirrel, Oregon gray squirrel, Columbian gray squirrel, and gray squirrel.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, 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 544 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.
