NEWS RELEASE

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February 11, 2009

 

Wyoming’s smallest pocket gopher clears hurdle
toward protection:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife says protection for the Wyoming pocket gopher warrants further study

Laramie— On February 10th, the Wyoming pocket gopher moved a step closer to potential protection under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued notice that a petition to protect this rare and exclusively Wyoming mammal, as Threatened or Endangered contained sufficient scientific information to warrant further study.

The petition, submitted by Biodiversity Conservation Alliance of Laramie and Center for Native Ecosystems of Denver on August 7, 2007, presented pocket gopher data reaching back as far as the late 1800s and as current as 2007. More Wyoming pocket gopher surveys are scheduled for this summer to locate and identify individual specimens and to better define the small distribution range of this rare and elusive mammal.

Known to occur only in Wyoming’s prized Red Desert, the chance of survival for this unique and reclusive species will be reduced if not protected and proposed oil and gas development projects move forward.

Two drilling proposals located within the Continental Divide-Creston area were submitted to the Bureau of Land Management in 2005. Devon Energy Corporation proposed to develop 1,000 new natural gas wells and BP American Production Company proposed to develop 7,700 new wells. Already disturbing potential Wyoming pocket gopher habitat are 2,000+ active wells and almost 500 reclaimed wells.

Duane Short of Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, stated, “When existing and proposed wells far outnumber the known number of Wyoming pocket gophers it is difficult to defend an argument for more drilling in this imperiled pocket gopher’s extremely limited habitat.” Short added, “"Based on the science concerning the gopher and imminent threats to its survival, this species clearly needs protections offered only in the Endangered Species Act."

Erin Robertson of Center for Native Ecosystems noted, “The BLM and Fish and Wildlife Service have a responsibility to safeguard the imperiled Wyoming pocket gopher. It is encouraging to see Fish & Wildlife seriously considering the sound science presented in our petition.” Robertson concluded, “While Fish and Wildlife are busy deciding whether to list the gopher as Threatened or Endangered the BLM should not approve leases or allow drilling that could jeopardize the survival of the pocket gopher.”

U.S. Fish and Wildlife has 12 months to offer or deny Wyoming’s tiny gopher protection under the Endangered Species Act. Short noted, “Biodiversity Conservation Alliance is continuing to supply Fish and Wildlife new Wyoming pocket gopher information as it continues to become available.”