CDFW Newshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/NewsCDFW Seeks Public Comment Related to Inyo Rock Daisyhttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-seeks-public-comment-related-to-inyo-rock-daisySpeciesTue, 20 Sep 2022 13:27:07 GMTCDFW is seeking data and public comment on a proposal to list the Inyo rock daisy under the California Endangered Species Act.<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking data and public comment on a proposal to list the Inyo rock daisy under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).</p> <p>Inyo rock daisy (<em>Perityle inyoensis</em>) is a perennial subshrub in the sunflower family that is endemic to the high elevation areas (2,019-2,774 m/6,623-9,100 ft) of the southern Inyo Mountains of Inyo County. It is restricted to rock outcrops high in calcium carbonate in pinyon woodlands, Joshua tree woodlands and sagebrush shrublands. Inyo rock daisy is known from 26 occurrences with a global population estimate in the low thousands. The main threat to Inyo rock daisy is modification and/or destruction of habitat due to mineral exploration and mining activities. Other potential threats include invasive plant species, climate change, small population size and tourism related to the development of the Cerro Gordo ghost town.</p> <p>On Feb. 2, 2022, Maria Jesus, the Center for Biological Diversity and the California Native Plant Society submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to list the Inyo rock daisy as an endangered or threatened species under CESA. The Commission published findings of its decision to advance the species to candidacy on September 2, 2022, and as such, Inyo rock daisy now receives the same legal protection afforded to an endangered or threatened species (Fish and Game Code, sections 2074.2 and 2085).</p> <p>Over the next 12 months, CDFW will conduct a status review to inform the Commission’s final decision on whether to list the species under CESA. As part of the status review process, CDFW is soliciting information regarding Inyo rock daisy’s ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management and recommendations for management of the species.</p> <p>CDFW respectfully requests that data and comments be submitted before Dec. 1, 2022 to allow sufficient time to evaluate this information during the status review period. Please provide data and comments to CDFW by email at <a href="mailto:NativePlants@wildlife.ca.gov?subject=Inyo%20rock%20daisy">NativePlants@wildlife.ca.gov</a> and include “Inyo rock daisy” in the subject line. Comments may also be submitted by mail to California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Native Plant Program, Attn: Kristi Lazar, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.</p> <p>CDFW will produce a peer-reviewed report based upon the best scientific information available, which will include a recommendation as to whether the petitioned action is warranted (Fish and Game Code, section 2074.6). The <a href="/Conservation/CESA/One-Year-Reviews">report will be made publicly available on CDFW’s website</a> for at least 30 days before the Commission considers acting on the petition. Please note, the Commission—which is a legally separate entity from CDFW—is charged with making the final determination on whether to list a species as endangered or threatened under CESA (Fish and Game Code, section 2075.5). CDFW serves in a scientific advisory role to the Commission during this process. See the <a href="https://fgc.ca.gov/" target="_blank">California Fish and Game Commission web page</a> for details on submitting comments to the Commission and receiving email alerts for upcoming Commission meetings.</p> <p>The <a href="https://fgc.ca.gov/CESA" target="_blank">listing petition, CDFW’s petition evaluation report and updates on the listing process</a> are available on the Commission’s website.</p> <p><em><strong>CDFW Photo:</strong> Inyo rock daisy, by Kristi Lazar</em></p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:kristi.lazar@wildlife.ca.gov">Kristi Lazar</a>, CDFW Habitat Conservation Planning Branch/Native Plant Program, (916) 594-5425<br /> <a href="mailto:kirsten.macintyre@wildlife.ca.gov">Kirsten Macintyre</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714</em></p> CDFW Seeks Information Related to Temblor Legless Lizardhttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-seeks-information-related-to-temblor-legless-lizardWildlife HealthSun, 14 Aug 2022 04:00:12 GMTCDFW is seeking data and comments on a proposal to list the Temblor legless lizard under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking data and comments on a proposal to list the Temblor legless lizard under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).</p> <p>The Temblor legless lizard (<em>Anniella alexanderae</em>) is a unique, limbless lizard endemic to the alkali desert scrub and annual grasslands of the southwestern San Joaquin Valley, east of the Temblor mountains at 168–466 meters (551–1,529 feet) elevation. This burrowing and crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) species uses the ground surface, soil and leaf litter for feeding and mating. Temblor legless lizards eat larval insects, adult beetles, termites and spiders. Threats include habitat loss due to development, urbanization, agriculture, climate change and invasive species. Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation can restrict the species’ ability to feed, burrow and reproduce.</p> <p>On November 18, 2021, the Center for Biological Diversity submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to list the Temblor legless lizard as a threatened or endangered species under CESA. The Commission published findings of its decision to advance the species to candidacy on July 1, 2022, and as such, Temblor legless lizard now receives the same legal protection afforded to an endangered or threatened species (California Fish and Game Code, sections 2074.2 and 2085).</p> <p><img alt="Map showing central California range for the Temblor legless lizard." src="/Portals/0/Images/OCEO/News/TemblorLeglessLizard_map_resized.jpg" style="width: 1000px; max-width: 100%; height: auto;" /></p> <p>Over the next 12 months, CDFW will conduct a status review to inform the Commission’s final decision on whether to list the species under CESA. As part of the status review process, CDFW is soliciting information regarding the species’ ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management and recommendations for management of the species.</p> <p>Comments must be submitted prior to October 1, 2022. Comments may be submitted by email to <a href="mailto:wildlifemgt@wildlife.ca.gov?subject=Temblor%20legless%20lizard">wildlifemgt@wildlife.ca.gov</a>; please include “Temblor legless lizard” in the subject line. Comments may also be submitted by mail to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Diversity Program, Attn: CESA Conservation Unit, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.</p> <p>CDFW will produce a peer-reviewed report based upon the best scientific information available, which will indicate whether the petitioned action is warranted and will include related recommendations from CDFW staff (FGC, section 2074.6). The <a href="/Conservation/CESA/One-Year-Reviews">report will be made publicly available on CDFW’s website</a> at for at least 30 days before the Commission considers acting on the petition. Pursuant to FGC, section 2075.5, the Commission — which is a legally separate entity from CDFW — is charged with making the final determination on whether to list a species as endangered or threatened under CESA. CDFW serves in an advisory role to the Commission during this process.</p> <p>The <a href="https://fgc.ca.gov/CESA" target="_blank">listing petition, CDFW’s petition evaluation report and updates on the status of this process</a> are available on the Commission’s website.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:katrina.smith@wildlife.ca.gov">Katrina Smith</a>, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 207-5573<br /> <a href="mailto:kirsten.macintyre@wildlife.ca.gov">Kirsten Macintyre</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714 </em></p> <p><i><strong>Photo:</strong><br /> Temblor legless lizard © Noah Morales</i></p> CDFW Seeks Public Comment Related to Mojave Desert Tortoisehttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-seeks-public-comment-related-to-mojave-desert-tortoiseSpeciesWed, 11 May 2022 16:35:10 GMTCDFW is seeking public comment on a proposal to uplist the Mojave Desert Tortoise from threatened to endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking public comment on a proposal to uplist the Mojave Desert Tortoise from threatened to endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).</p> <p>The Mojave Desert Tortoise (<em>Gopherus agassizii</em>) is found in the Mojave Desert, the western Sonoran Desert and the southern Great Basin Desert. They spend much of the year underground in burrows to shelter from extreme temperatures. When they do emerge, they feed on native grasses. Their densities have declined drastically in many places in California in the past 20 years. Threats include habitat fragmentation, development in these desert regions, increasing drought due to climate change, invasive grasses out-competing food items preferred by tortoise, disease, predation by coyotes and ravens, and human-caused mortality.</p> <p>In March 2020, the Defenders of Wildlife submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to formally uplist the Mojave Desert Tortoise as an endangered species under CESA. The Commission published findings of its decision to advance the species to candidacy on October 14, 2020, triggering a period during which CDFW will conduct a status review to inform the Commission’s decision on whether to uplist the species.</p> <p>As part of the status review process, CDFW is soliciting public comment regarding the species’ ecology, biology, life history, distribution, abundance, threats and habitat that may be essential for the species, and any recommendations for management. Comments, data and other information can be submitted by email to <a href="mailto:wildlifemgt@wildlife.ca.gov">wildlifemgt@wildlife.ca.gov</a>. If submitting comments by email, please include “Mojave Desert Tortoise” in the subject heading.</p> <p>Comments may also be submitted by mail to:</p> <p>California Department of Fish and Wildlife<br /> Wildlife Diversity Program<br /> Attn: Anne Hilborn<br /> P.O. Box 944209<br /> Sacramento, CA 94244-2090</p> <p>All comments received by June 10, 2022 will be evaluated prior to submission of the CDFW report to the Commission. Receipt of the report will be placed on the agenda for the next available meeting of the Commission after delivery and the report will be made available to the public at that time. Following the receipt of the CDFW report, the Commission will allow a 30-day public comment period prior to taking any action on the petition.</p> <p>CDFW’s <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=182183&inline" target="_blank">Mohave Desert Tortoise petition evaluation report (PDF)</a> can be found on the CDFW website.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em>Photo by Dana Wilson, courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management.</em></p>