The US government has revised seven decisions made by a former official who worked on the Endangered Species Act. Julie MacDonald resigned from the Fish and Wildlife Service in May after it emerged that she pressured agency scientists, and solicited advice on decisions from a friend in the online game World of Warcraft.
Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei) will not now lose its listing, but will be considered threatened only in Colorado (it is also found in Wyoming). Twelve endangered species of Hawaiian picture-wing fly will be able to stretch out in 'critical habitats' larger than the 0.4 hectares per species designated for them by MacDonald. And decisions affecting several other species, including the white-tailed prairie dog (pictured) and the arroyo toad, have been deemed flawed. But research needed to revise some of these decisions will be carried out only if funding can be found.
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Endangered species cling on as rulings are overturned. Nature 450, 775 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/450775f
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/450775f