[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13950-13952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6332]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: 90-Day Finding for
a Petition to List the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse as Threatened or
Endangered
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition finding.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 90-
day finding for a petition to list the Preble's meadow jumping mouse
(Zapus hudsonius preblei) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended. The Service finds that there is substantial information to
indicate that listing the species may be warranted.
DATES: The finding announced in this document was approved on February
27, 1994. To be considered in the 12-month finding for this petition,
information and comments should be submitted to the Service by May 15,
1995.
ADDRESSES: Information, questions, or comments concerning this petition
finding may be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 730 Simms Street, Room 290, Golden, Colorado 80401. The
petition, finding, supporting data, and comments are available for
public inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the
above office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LeRoy W. Carlson (see ADDRESSES) (303/231-5280).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) make a finding on whether a petition to
list, delist, or reclassify a species presents substantial scientific
or commercial information to demonstrate that the petitioned action may
be warranted. To the maximum extent practicable, this finding is to be
made within 90 days of the receipt of the petition, and a notice
regarding the finding is to be published promptly in the Federal
Register. If the finding is that substantial information was presented,
the Service also is required to commence a review of the status of the
involved species if one has not already been initiated by the Service.
The Service initiated a status review for Preble's meadow jumping mouse
(Zapus hudsonius preblei) when it categorized the species as a category
2 candidate species in the 1985 Animal Notice of Review (50 FR 37958).
This notice meets the requirement for the 90-day finding made earlier
on the petition as discussed below.
A petition dated August 9, 1994, was received by the Service from
the Biodiversity Legal Foundation on August 16, 1994. The petition
requests the Service to list Preble's meadow jumping mouse as
endangered or threatened throughout its range and to designate critical
habitat within a [[Page 13951]] reasonable amount of time following the
listing.
The petitioner submitted information that Preble's meadow jumping
mouse populations in Colorado and Wyoming are imperiled by ongoing and
increasing urban, industrial, agricultural, ranching, and recreational
development; wetland and riparian habitat destruction and/or
conversion; and inadequacy or lack of governmental protection for the
subspecies and its habitats.
The Preble's meadow jumping mouse is a small rodent in the family
Zapodidae. The coloration and the skull characteristics of the Preble's
meadow jumping mouse were described by Krutzsch (1954).
Krutzsch (1954), Quimby (1951), and Armstrong (1972) concur that
this species dwells mostly in low undergrowth consisting of grasses,
forbs, or both; in open wet meadows and riparian corridors near forests
(coniferous and deciduous hardwoods); or where tall shrubs and low
trees provide adequate cover. It prefers lowlands with medium to high
moisture over dry uplands. However, current research at Rocky Flats (M.
Bakeman and F. Harrington, pers. comm. 1994) indicates that the dryer
upland habitats are preferred to construct their winter hibernaculums
whereas moist lowlands are utilized during the spring and summer months
when the Preble's meadow jumping mouse is most active and reproducing.
Local mammalogists believe that the Preble's meadow jumping mouse
has never been common, but the apparent extirpation of this species
from previously occupied habitats in Wyoming and Colorado and the
difficulties finding it in apparently adequate habitats may be
indicative of a precipitous decline in populations of the Preble's
meadow jumping mouse (D. Armstrong, University of Colorado, pers. comm.
1992) throughout its range. Current information indicates that Preble's
meadow jumping mouse is restricted to only two known populations in
Colorado and apparently none in Wyoming. It is unclear if two other
populations in Colorado still exist. Known populations in Colorado are
located at the Department of Energy's Rock Flats Plant in northern
Jefferson County and adjacent City of Boulder Open Space land in
southern Boulder County. A specimen tentatively identified as a
Preble's meadow jumping mouse was captured in 1994 at the Air Force
Academy in El Paso County (C. Pague, Colorado Natural Heritage Program,
pers. comm. 1994).
Listing Factors
The following are the five listing criteria as set forth in section
4(a)(1) of the Act and regulations (50 CFR Part 424) promulgated to
implement the listing provisions of the Act and their applicability to
the current status of Preble's meadow jumping mouse.
A. The present or threatened destruction, modification, or
curtailment of its habitat or range. The main cause for Preble's meadow
jumping mouse's decline is directly or indirectly linked to habitat
alteration. The habitat alteration includes widespread destruction and/
or modification of wet meadows and riparian corridors and indirect
hydrological impacts by anthropogenic structures, including--biking/
hiking trails; riprap and other bank stabilization structures and
activities; road and bridge construction; urban, industrial,
commercial, agricultural, and ranching development; and sand and gravel
mining operations. Gravel mining operations continue to expand as
housing and road construction activities increase, and these mines are
located within wetlands, wet meadows, and riparian habitats.
The Front Range region in Colorado has changed from a predominantly
prairie habitat intermixed with wet meadows and intermittent streams
and gulches to a more agricultural and urban setting with its
associated housing, recreational, commercial, and industrial
development. These developments have brought about profound changes in
the hydrology of the streams along the Front Range. With urbanization
has come the expansion of park areas and forestation. With park and
open space development has come the expansion of hiking and biking
trails along and crossing riparian habitats that have caused further
fragmentation of this mouse's habitats.
Grazing has been identified by some researchers as one of the
leading causes for its decline (F. Harrington, pers. comm. 1994), but
there is little scientific information to adequately show a
relationship between moderate grazing and population declines of this
mouse. Reservoir impoundments could also impact this mouse by
inundating individuals and/or its habitats.
B. Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes. Preble's meadow jumping mouse has no known
commercial or recreational value. Scientific and educational collecting
was not widespread over the past century. Overutilization apparently
did not contribute to population declines of this mouse population.
C. Disease or predation. Knowledgeable mammalogists (D. Armstrong,
pers. comm. 1994; F. Harrington, pers. comm. 1994) do not believe that
an epizootic disease caused the demise of the subspecies. Competition
from nonnative rodents (i.e., the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus; and
house mouse, Mus Musculus) and predation by domestic pets (dogs and
cats) might also be reasons for this mouse's disappearance. Both of
these nonnative rodents have been recently trapped during small mammal
surveys from relatively undisturbed riparian habitats.
D. The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms. Since 1990,
the Colorado Division of Wildlife (Division) has classified Preble's
meadow jumping mouse as a ``nongame'' subspecies and a ``species of
special concern''. This designation protects the species by denying
permits for the take of the species (J. Sheppard, Colorado Division of
Wildlife, pers. comm. 1994). In 1992, the Wyoming Game and Fish
Department (Department) classified the species Zapus hudsonius as a
nongame species under the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Chapter LII.
This designation protects the species from take and requires a special
permit for the purposes of scientific collection. However, this
designation does not protect the species from incidental taking or from
actions that may harm the species in order to protect public health.
Furthermore, protection by both States is limited to the mouse, itself,
and measures to protect the habitat are not included.
E. Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued
existence. The introduction of nonnative grasses associated with the
recent urbanization of Colorado's Front Range may also have contributed
to the demise of Preble's jumping mouse by the replacement of
indigenous grasses which this species is dependent upon. These
introduced grasses have less nutritional food value (F. Harrington,
pers. comm. 1994).
The use of pesticides and herbicides have increased with the
urbanization and agricultural development of the Front Range. These
chemicals could be contaminating this mouse's food sources and could
cause direct poisoning of the species, itself.
Finding
The Service has reviewed the petition and accompanying
documentation on the status of Preble's jumping mouse and information
concerning potential threats to the species. On the basis of the best
scientific and commercial information available, the Service
[[Page 13952]] concludes that substantial information exists to
indicate that the requested action may be warranted. The Service
believes that habitat destruction and modification are the main cause
for the species decline.
The petitioner requested that the critical habitat also be
designated. If the 12-month finding determines that the petitioned
action to list Preble's jumping mouse is warranted, then the Act
requires that designation of critical habitat be addressed in a
subsequent proposed rule.
The Service's 90-day finding contains more detailed information
regarding the above decisions. A copy can be obtained from the
Service's Colorado Field Office (see ADDRESSES above).
References Cited
Armstrong, D.M. 1972. Distribution of mammals in Colorado.
University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History Monograph 3:1-415.
Krutzsch, P.H. 1954. North American jumping mice (genus Zapus).
Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. Natural History 7:349-472.
Quimby, D.C. 1951. The life history and ecology of the jumping
mouse, Zapus hudsonius. Ecological Monographs 21:61-95.
Whitaker, J.O. 1972. Zapus hudsonius. Mammalian Species 11:1-7.
Author
The primary author of this document is Jose Bernardo Garza (See
ADDRESSES section).
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and threatened Species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, and Transportation.
Dated: February 27, 1995.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 95-6332 Filed 3-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M