The Fish and Wildlife Service proposed reducing federal protections Thursday for pumas and other animals that for decades have enjoyed special consideration because they look like threatened or endangered species.
In an unusual Endangered Species Act maneuver, the federal agency is proposing to “amend or remove” the ESA coverage currently extended to 11 species, including pumas, the Sonoran population of the desert tortoise and four distinct kinds of map turtles.
“This proposed rule is intended to reduce or remove regulatory burdens,” the Fish and Wildlife Service stated.
The 11 species have been treated until now as if they were listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA, even though they are not. Instead, the Fish and Wildlife Service has extended protections because of their similarity in appearance to listed species.
