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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rule on status of alpine bird in one year
A pair of ptarmigans nestle in the snow on Quandary Peak. PHOTO BY KIM FENSKE.
Ptarmigans on Mt. Bierstadt changing from summer plumage to winter plumage in Oct. 2011. PHOTO BY KIM FENSKE.
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — Shrinking alpine habitat and declining mountain snow cover may push ptarmigans to the brink of extinction, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which announced this week that it will do an in-depth study to determine if the birds should be listed as threatened or endangered.
As so often, the push came from the Center for Biological Diversity, which petitioned the federal agency to consider a listing. Ptarmigans are one of the species included in a settlement agreement between the USFWS and conservation groups on a slate of species. Under the deal, the agency has agreed to make determinations on more than 750 potentially threatened species. (more…)
Filed under: biodiversity, climate and weather, Colorado, endangered species, Environment, global warming | Tagged: biodiversity, climate change, endangered species, global warming, US Fish and Wildlife Service, white-tailed ptarmigan | Leave a Comment »
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