The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a petition seeking Endangered Species Act protection for the northern water snake failed to provide substantial scientific information indicating protection is warranted.
; The petition sought protection of the northern water snake in the upper tidal Potomac River as a distinct population segment based on its possible genetic isolation. A DPS is eligible for protection under the Act if it meets certain criteria, even if the overall population of the species does not warrant protection. However, the petition provided no substantial scientific evidence that these northern water snakes are isolated from other"COLOR: #333333 populations of the species or are significant in relation to the entire species, according to Martin Miller, chief of endangered species for Services Northeast Region.
"COLOR: #333333 The petition asked the Service to place the upper tidal Potomac River northern water snake on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife on an emergency basis and to classify it as endangered. The Service also found that temporary emergency protection is not warranted, Miller said. The Service received the petition in 2000 from Dr. Richard M. Mitchell of Alexandria, Va."COLOR: #333333
Northern water snakes are abundant in the United States and are found from Quebec to North Carolina and from the Atlantic coast west to Colorado. Often mistaken for water moccasins, the northern water snake is not venomous.
; The petition finding was published in the "Federal Register" on Dec. 6 and may be seen at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-20542.htm
Information about endangered species may be found at http://www.fws.gov/endangered.
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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