Denver, Colorado - Secretary of Interior Gale Norton today announced her intention to remove protection for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse pending final results of an ongoing study. The Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) is found along Colorado's Front Range and southeastern Wyoming. It is dependent on healthy streams and riparian areas, and its decline has been closely linked to the continued loss of intact wildlife habitat across the region.

"This proposal is a devastating blow to open space across the Front Range of Colorado and Wyoming, to good science, and to the public interest," said Jeremy Nichols, Conservation Director for Biodiversity Conservation Alliance.

The Service's proposal is to remove protection unless research within the next year definitively proves that it is unique.

"They are clearly telling the world that they plan to remove protection for the mouse and other Front Range wildlife," said Erin Robertson, Staff Biologist for Center for Native Ecosystems. "They've just added some smoke and mirrors to make it seem less dramatic."

While the Service admits it still needs to study other aspects of the mouse's genetics and biology, they are moving ahead with removal of protections rather than asking for more time to make a well-informed decision.

A recent study funded largely by the state of Wyoming (a vocal opponent of endangered species protection) raised questions about whether the Preble's meadow jumping mouse is a separate subspecies, but the research failed to answer many critical questions and has suffered numerous criticisms from other scientific experts. Many of the expert reviewers raised significant concerns about the study's methods and conclusions, and these still have not been addressed. See http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/preble/#news for copies of the expert reviews. More than a year after its release, the study still has not been published in a scientific journal.

"Secretary Norton must base her decision on sound, careful science," explained Nichols. "Instead, it appears that she is shamelessly bowing to political pressure."

The questionable scientific basis for the current push to remove protections for the mouse has been only one factor driving the controversy. Numerous politicians jumped into the fray as well even though the scientific research is inconclusive. Senator Allard called for immediate removal of protections last year (April 28, 2004 letter of Senator Allard to Stephen Williams, Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) despite the problems with the new science. Similarly, Congressman Tancredo introduced a bill that would "permanently prevent" Endangered Species Act protection for the mouse on the same basis (May 19, 2004 Press Release of Congressman Tancredo) regardless of the outcome of the scientific process. The Colorado State Legislature even adopted a measure obstructing scientific experts from reviewing new research.

"Protecting the habitat has had substantial benefits for Front Range residents and communities, something that many people have overlooked," explained Robertson. "It has meant more protection for open space, improved protection of clean water, and it has helped protect homes and families from flood damage."

Because of the existing protections for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse and its habitat, developers have been required to protect modest amounts of open space and water quality when building new subdivisions. Protecting Preble's habitat has also helped keep homes out of floodplains, reducing the chances that floods sparked by heavy rains destroy homes and perhaps even take lives.

"The public interest and the law both require that we make these decision based on thorough, credible scientific research," noted Nichols. "Instead, politicians, developers, and other opponents to conservation have so far hijacked the science."

"Extinction is forever. Decisions to rescind protections for endangered species should not be made lightly, and should be based on sound science," said Robertson.