You are here

Home » Tiny Lizard That Calls Death Valley National Park Home Could Be Added to ESA List

Tiny Lizard That Calls Death Valley National Park Home Could Be Added to ESA List

Share
By Kurt Repanshek - January 11th, 2008

The Mojave fringe-toed lizard, which can be found in Death Valley National Park, could soon gain protection under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS Photo.

A small lizard that skitters about Death Valley National Park might soon gain protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The Center for Biological Diversity back in April 2006 petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider the Mojave fringe-toed lizard for ESA protection. On Thursday, January 10, the center announced that the FWS will begin a one-year study to determine whether such designation is needed.

The Amargosa River population of the Mojave fringe-toed lizard occupies three dunes in and adjacent to Death Valley National Park. Scientists determined that the Amargosa population is genetically distinct from other populations of the species, which allows the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect it as a “distinct population segment.”

“Off-road vehicles come at this highly adapted and unique lizard from all sides — they degrade its habitat, destroy its food source, and trample lizards directly,” said Chris Kassar, a wildlife biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “This is a rare and vulnerable creature that simply cannot co-exist with such off-road vehicle excess. The lizard desperately needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act to avoid extinction.”

According to the center, the lizard can evade predators and extreme midday heat by using its fringed toes to swiftly bury itself in the fine sands of the dunes it inhabits. However, it says the lizard remains close enough to the surface that it is still vulnerable to death or injury from off-road vehicles’ sand-digging tires.

Comments

Submitted by admin on January 11, 2008 - 9:23pm.

Well, let's hope the Bush administration keeps it's cotton picken hands out of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service field of responsibility of enforcing the ESA. Also, keep the Sec. of Interior (and this present administration) from meddling into the affairs of the U.S. FWS, by influencing it's so called anti-environmental stance, and trying skewer the good solid biological research work done by the FWS. The Bush administrations main goal is to train wreck the ESA for the purpose of greed, rape and pillage. No doubt!!!


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.