The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) announced its completion of a 12-month review for multiple freshwater turtle species. FWS proposes to list the Pearl River map turtle as a threatened species with a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although FWS determined that it is not warranted at this time to list the Pascagoula map turtle, the agency still proposes to list the Pascagoula map turtle, Alabama map turtle, Barbour’s map turtle, and Escambia map turtle as threatened species under the 4(d) rule due to their similarity in appearance with the Pearl River map turtle––affording those species all the same ESA protections. FWS is accepting comments through January 24, 2021.
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