Species status review begins
- Bee Metro Staff
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, February 15, 2007
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday it will conduct a status review of 58 protected species in California and Nevada, including the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.
The review, required every five years, will determine whether the species status should be changed under the Endangered Species Act. The affected species include 12 animals and 40 plants in California, and six animals in Nevada.
Wednesday's announcement begins a 60-day public comment period to obtain information about each species.
The population of the majestic Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep has increased in recent years. But its recovery has been controversial because it required controlling their only predator, mountain lions.
