The Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae) is a rare and critically imperiled butterfly species native to pristine prairie habitats of the northern Great Plains. The Dakota skipper has been the subject of conservation concern for many years and has been a Candidate for Endangered Species Act listing for nearly twenty years. Indeed, the decline and trend of the Dakota skipper toward extinction is undisputed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unfortunately, despite years of concern over the status of the species, documented trends toward extinction, and the availability of sufficient information to support a listing proposal under the Endangered Species Act, the Dakota skipper and its habitat has received little to no on-the-ground protection and remains imminently threatened by a variety of factors. Now, more than ever, the Dakota skipper is in dire need of Endangered Species Act protection.

The Dakota skipper meets several criteria for listing under the Endangered Species Act:

· The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range

The Dakota skipper has already experienced significant declines as a result of substantial prairie habitat destruction. Continued habitat destruction due to agricultural and other activities currently threatens the species. Additionally, habitat degradation caused by nonnative plant invasion, pesticide and herbicide application, domestic livestock grazing, haying, controlled burning, control or elimination of natural disturbances, and other activities threaten the Dakota skipper and pose significant threats to the well-being of the species.

· Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes

The potential commercial collection of purple coneflower, which is a primary nectar source for Dakota skipper, poses threats to the Dakota skipper.

· Disease and Predation

Dakota skipper are known to be preyed upon by several other invertebrate species and potentially some bird species. Naturally occurring disease also causes Dakota skipper mortality.

· The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms

The Dakota skipper and its habitat receives no protection through National or International law. Additionally, State and Provincial laws are entirely inadequate to protect the Dakota skipper and its habitat. Federal agencies have also failed to provide adequate protection to the Dakota skipper and its habitat on their land and the species also receives no formal protection on tribal lands.

· Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence

The fragmentation of Dakota skipper habitat poses many significant threats to the species. Additionally, because of the small size and isolation of many Dakota skipper populations, the species is more vulnerable to the effects of stochastic events. Climate change also threatens the Dakota skipper and the delay of timely protection of the Dakota skipper also threatens the species.

Protecting the Dakota skipper under the Endangered Species Act will lead to many benefits. Because the Dakota skipper is an indicator of the health of prairie ecosystems, protection of the species under the Endangered Species Act will bring much-needed protection to prairie habitats where the Dakota skipper exists. In turn, protection of the prairie ecosystem has the potential to benefit several other imperiled species as well. Finally, protection of the prairie ecosystem now will also help to secure a foundation for future and possibly more widespread prairie ecosystem restoration.