Endangered Peñasco Least Chipmunk's Habitat Shrinks to 4,386 Acres

USFWS declares Peñasco least chipmunk endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

[{"selector":"#anim-b7509694-495d-4699-be4e-92996bd95e82 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-301016a4-d403-4d9e-871b-b810ffb6eb23","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Henrique Pacheco (CC BY 4.0)

Federal authorities designate 4,386 acres in Lincoln County as protected habitat, exclusively on U.S. Forest Service land.

[{"selector":"#anim-73afd3ee-d95a-41e2-b238-54f792bb68bc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-14.734927477275583%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81be66f4-28ec-4e5d-aa07-6cfa3e0b3cbe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b7a89f5-e76d-4766-b29d-8d27bf50d36d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9a7ec85-3a18-4e89-b37a-c7bd2bf50cd4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e802491b-539f-4f72-9b2d-464a4f18985f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Dsw3131 ( CC0 1.0 )

Peñasco least chipmunk population dwindles to White Mountains, vanishing from former Sacramento Mountain territories.

[{"selector":"#anim-1e341732-c884-45fa-ada3-5fb2d70ed80e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-15.840938978672746%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb69a475-e674-4a03-a97e-910fddebd4e6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6e0766d-5c36-4e75-9513-f677f507d9f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8dcd713-5cc4-42af-8bb3-79562575c50e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b7ed9df-e244-4871-8c84-fd7be82ef165","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Rhododendrites (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Peñasco least chipmunk forages on seeds and flowers in subalpine forests, using mature conifers for protection.

[{"selector":"#anim-026774ac-d74e-4e42-9bfd-8d92661acf67 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.911116448963703%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c224151-0c13-4088-974c-467130a6b1c5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24371971-cdbd-4804-9194-c706cd2088c3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-452a06ba-31eb-4b2a-9730-312eafd31177","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca6d7e3e-716c-4a80-b470-45d80b8d09e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: yeowatzup at Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Mescalero Apache Reservation and Ski Apache Resort excluded from critical habitat designation based on tribal expertise and input.

[{"selector":"#anim-98ca9898-2d27-49ec-b54a-9f5c5c17e526 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.974011837467813%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39761ea0-1d0f-43b7-81e0-d678259631e4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32bc6d82-beee-464f-a910-2bb559534f82","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97bb6855-581c-46d6-9aa6-2d8041a0428f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89a5a236-d78a-463e-94f9-169b2a52ab44","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: William (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Recent southern New Mexico wildfires compound challenges for endangered chipmunk population recovery efforts.

[{"selector":"#anim-5331a329-517a-46b9-a992-8554db6b523e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(8.887734033912249%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-807edd6d-1068-4cde-a5c9-9f02eb60cc02","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ae4461a-62c9-408f-a165-b6135a246b00","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-446546b7-e29f-4e75-960d-3a9bae7036da","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f6fc4a9-f08a-4fba-b91a-5a1ffdacac79","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Famartin (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Future survey work planned to assess wildfire impact on chipmunk habitats within historic range.

[{"selector":"#anim-40200320-6eb8-4582-8e22-485ff708211d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.19402609725298%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6649f33-ae89-4c08-856d-300edb5b4bf7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb226de5-6f62-4aad-929d-be02f13a4a29","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cee68e5f-9471-4afd-9039-fee0c6e19734","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7b0af91-30c3-49b4-a2e0-dd582e38fe02","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: John McColgan ( CC BY-SA 4.0 )

Federal programs ensure community rebuilding continues alongside conservation measures.

[{"selector":"#anim-9b7be1f2-8cc5-448d-87ce-3b9573e8524b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(11.589972730352404%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d66667ce-9cb4-4eea-9a76-6cbddd6fb038","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3674bb89-1081-467b-a50c-969ee1ceeca4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b2923b4-a492-430a-801e-2f9b2bddd5cc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca5cde06-5b90-4f8e-a62d-24c2c4abd81d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: ALAN SCHMIERER (CC0)

Non-native wildlife competition and land use practices pose additional risks to isolated chipmunk populations.

[{"selector":"#anim-6c66b36c-bec7-45f1-bc58-6b2f71760e59 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(8.11298090971206%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e82d4592-d4d9-475d-a0b1-69b0b7e415fe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b606a7c-2866-44e9-b941-39bf7bb5f87d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60d46c93-b9f0-4f34-ad45-2c573c7c215d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-abbc7c11-a66c-465a-b855-4e0089a2a4cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: BirdPhotos.com (CC BY 3.0)

New protection measures take effect 30 days after Federal Register posting, steering future conservation strategy.

[{"selector":"#anim-94c002f6-bbb5-4bb9-be6e-751b85f32a1b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(3.464255579697749%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2cdac569-8476-4331-a780-4779d8432b52","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.45741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8cd68ea7-2c59-4c83-88fd-3a7cf8438df3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff7f2504-92a5-4dd3-b602-caed90ba0749","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e10591d-6df1-427c-88b4-ba310e5bdd59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Rhododendrites (CC BY-SA 4.0)

13 Populations of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Restored in 10 Years

[{"selector":"#anim-325ab54e-22dc-4ca5-88ad-ac98b371878e","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0315b1f5-bfc9-4707-8e29-0e3429ee4966","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4bdce97e-6abf-4376-8650-4a26cf974a01","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.79935%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca5e353c-9308-4a6f-b0b4-94db93d15515","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b88a0aa2-9877-4d21-9a56-b308b2db5643","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b18f940-847d-4270-a87b-467f38ee78ea","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.92356%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-22ab1c03-d0f1-4aa7-92df-d5f3eb68b0fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-063182f3-3e9c-4605-a00f-fac3a101c40d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Learn more