U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Federal Protections for both Species of Western Pond Turtle under the Endangered Species Act 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes federal protections for both species of western pond turtle under the Endangered Species Act

Ventura, California – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a proposal to list both species of western pond turtle, the northwestern pond turtle and the southwestern pond turtle, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The Service is also proposing a 4(d) rule, that would support conservation of both species.

The northwestern pond turtle occurs in Washington, Oregon, Nevada and throughout much of northern and central California. The southwestern pond turtle occurs in southern California from Monterey County south to Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego counties into northern Baja California, Mexico. The turtles use rivers, lakes, ponds, streams other water sources and terrestrial habitats throughout their lives.

Ongoing threats to both species include worsening drought conditions, habitat loss and fragmentation, and predation by invasive species such as non-native bullfrogs.

“Food, water and shelter for northwestern pond turtles and southwestern pond turtles are becoming scarce across the western United States,” said Paul Souza, director of the Service’s Pacific Southwest Region. “We are working alongside federal and state agencies and private landowners to implement conservation actions for northwestern and southwestern pond turtles, and we need everyone’s support to help them thrive in the wild.”

The Service reviewed the best available science to evaluate the status of both species by preparing a Species Status Assessment, including information provided by species experts.

The assessment found that although the southwestern pond turtle and northwestern pond turtle are likely to sustain populations in the wild in the near term, both species have increasing risk of extinction due to population losses, decreased genetic diversity, and a reduced ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions in the next half century, thus warranting listing as threatened under the ESA.

The Service is also proposing a 4(d) rule that allows activities that support conservation of both species, including wildfire suppression and management, maintenance of existing livestock ponds, habitat restoration, and non-native species removal. The 4(d) rule would allow land managers and others to carry out these activities without the risk of violating the Endangered Species Act on their properties because they are expected to have beneficial or negligible impacts to pond turtles and their habitat.

Ongoing conservation efforts continue to support populations of southwestern pond turtle and northwestern pond turtle in the wild. These include development of a range-wide management strategy by federal, state, and private partners to guide efforts to enhance, protect and restore pond turtle habitat; collaboration with military installations to formalize management recommendations on thousands of acres of military land; and development of habitat conservation plans that provide landowners opportunities to assist in conserving the species and their habitats. For example, the state of Washington implemented habitat management and predator control measures while raising northwestern pond turtles in captivity for release into the wild to help boost populations.

Today’s announcement comes as the Department of the Interior celebrates the 50th anniversary of the ESA. The ESA has been highly effective and credited with saving 99% of listed species from extinction. Thus far, more than 100 species of plants and animals have been delisted based on recovery or reclassified from endangered to threatened based on improved conservation status, and hundreds more species are stable or improving thanks to the collaborative actions of Tribes, federal agencies, state and local governments, conservation organizations and private citizens.

The Service will seek public comment on this proposal. The documents will publish in the Federal Register on October 3, 2023 opening a 60-day public comment period. The Service will consider comments from all interested parties received by December 4, 2023. The proposal and information on how to submit comments can be found on or after October 3, 2023 at www.regulations.gov by searching under docket number FWS-R8-ES-2023-0092.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit  https://www.fws.gov/cno and connect with us on social media: FacebookInstagramX, LinkedInFlickr, and YouTube

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Vaguely
Vaguely
1 month ago

So the turtles can be found up and down the west coast, from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. But using”best available science” the feds want list the turtles as endangered, which invariably entails limiting public access to certain public lands. I wonder if it wouldn’t be easier just… Read more »

David Dennison
David Dennison
1 month ago
Reply to  Vaguely

Vaguely With your thinking and posting,if you and others similar thinkers would only want the wonderful human race to only matter on this planet….and their “right” to trample on, litter up and destroy “our” public lands and access to them… Besides, if the DFW is just “using the Turtles ”… Read more »

BobK
BobK
1 month ago
Reply to  David Dennison

David…. Any time a post is submitted that you don’t agree with, You are the one that injects politics in these discussions, it is you that are the 1st to mention Trump and then bad mouth any one that disagrees with your leftist views. You are a borderline Troll

Quacque
Quacque
1 month ago
Reply to  BobK

Who are you kidding, bob? You want to represent Vague’s bilious mass of buzzwords and falsehoods and hallf-truths and snark as some kind of politically neutral public service announcement?

BobK
BobK
1 month ago
Reply to  Quacque

Just read David’s replies for the last 2-5 years and tell me that I’m wrong.

David Dennison
David Dennison
1 month ago
Reply to  BobK

BobK I’m way to busy to respond much to your insult there at this time… Way too busy..got to get to the local hardware store before they close and buy me some garden hoses and sprinkler heads,heading north to apply for the jobs that’ll soon be available if, and that’s… Read more »

Last edited 1 month ago by David Dennison
name*
name*
1 month ago
Reply to  David Dennison

lol

Last edited 1 month ago by name*
Tinner
Tinner
1 month ago
Reply to  David Dennison

If you’re “too busy” how do you have the time to write a 250 word comment or reply as much as you do?
BobK is right, regardless of the subject matter, you mention Trump 98% of the time.
That’s Trump Derangement Syndrome, believe it or not.

David Dennison
David Dennison
1 month ago
Reply to  Tinner

Tinner
I ALWAYS find time to make fun of trump…
And there is ALWAYS plenty of dumb and stupid trumpie- things he says and does to do it with…

Last edited 1 month ago by David Dennison