It’s refreshing to get some good news in a time when the environment and wildlife conservation efforts don’t seem to get a break anymore. Fortunately, the Delmarva fox squirrel is here to lift our spirits, as it continues the streak of species being removed from the Endangered Species list.
- The Delmarva fox squirrel has made a comeback from the Endangered Species list
- The US Fish and Wildlife Service credits states and landowners for providing habitat
- More than 80 percent of the squirrel’s habitat is on private land, in mature forests and agricultural fields
Fun fact: the super-sized rodent was added on this list roughly five decades ago, so the revival of the species is long overdue. From the late 1970s, the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s efforts of reintroducing the Delmarva fox squirrel were relentless.
In the mid-1990s, some unofficial reports which couldn’t be verified stated that a small population had been established. According to the Department of Interior, setting up partnerships with states and landowners was one of the most influential moves in the species’ recovery.
At the same time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was proud to announce the fox squirrel had preferred the areas rich in forests and farmland, as it marked a much-needed win for the federal Endangered Species Act and efficiency of conservationists.
It can now be confirmed that the squirrel has indeed made a triumphant return to its native U.S. homes. Michael Bean, the deputy assistant secretary for wildlife and fish, commented that the fox squirrel’s return also represents the latest success in an evidence string proving the Endangered Species Act’s effectiveness.
This act, as Bean explained, is of utmost importance in recovering species on the brink of extinction by allowing partnerships and providing incentives for the states and private landowners who want to help wildlife while also supporting the local economy.
In the specific matter of the Delmarva fox squirrel, Bean thanked the efforts of the states of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, which have offered their help over the years in order to make this day possible. Evidently, the rodent will be officially removed from the list next month.
The FWS said the return of squirrel would not be possible without the “cooperation of federal and state agencies and conservation groups, as well as the private property owners of Maryland and Delaware” who help the endangered species by agreeing to provide habitat on their own land.
Image Source: Bay Journal
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