Yesterday, on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, we filed a complaint challenging the U.S. Forest Service (“USFS”) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (“FWS”) failure to adequately protect and conserve the critically endangered New Mexico Meadow jumping mouse in the Lincoln National Forest. The New Mexico meadow jumping mouse is considered a habitat specialist; to survive, the species requires riverine habitat composed of lush vegetation of at least two feet tall. Intense grazing pressure has contributed to habitat loss and fragmentation, which in turn, has led to an 82% reduction in its population size. According to FWS, without immediate measures to preserve and restore the remaining habitat, the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse has a high probability of extinction in the near term. In the Lincoln National Forest, designated New Mexico meadow jumping mouse critical habitat has been severely degraded by ongoing livestock grazing. In the two allotments containing critical habitat, USFS has consistently failed to implement the conservation and mitigation measures that are necessary to address the severe ongoing harm to critical habitat and the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. Additionally, despite the fact that ongoing grazing activities continue to threaten and degrade designated critical habitat, USFS and FWS have failed to reinitiate consultation as required under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531–1544. Our Complaint, therefore, seeks to ensure that USFS and FWS fully comply with their mandatory duties under the ESA to adequately protect and conserve the critically endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. A copy of the complaint can be found here.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer K. Frey, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University, via FWS.gov