National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Photo: U.S. Abusing Law to Get Species Off Protected List?


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Columbian white-tailed deer, like the one seen above, are among several species that were divided into groups known as distinct population segments under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

In recent years distinct population segments for the deer, the grizzly bear, and the gray wolf have all been deemed recovered and have been removed from the protected list.

But critics say that federal agencies have put these and other animals in peril by improperly using the little-known provision and not considering the status of whole populations.

Photograph courtesy USFWS