The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has announced the availability of a draft recovery plan for the island marble butterfly (Euchloe ausonides insulanus) and a 60-day public comment period.
After 90 years without a documented occurrence, the island marble butterfly was rediscovered in 1998 and its range has since contracted to a single population on San Juan Island, Washington State. On May 5, 2020, the Service listed the island marble butterfly as endangered and designated critical habitat. This is the first recovery plan for the species.
Working with our partners, the Service uses a range of conservation tools to recover threatened and endangered species. Recovery plans are one such tool, providing a roadmap for recovery of listed species in coordination with public and private partners.
This draft recovery plan promotes working to protect the existing population of the insect and future collaboration towards species recovery. A recovery plan provides guidance on how best to help listed species achieve recovery, but it is not a regulatory document.
The recovery plan is supported by two supplementary documents: a species biological report, which describes the best available scientific information related to the biological needs of the species and assessment of threats; and the recovery implementation strategy, which details the particular near-term activities needed to implement the recovery actions identified in the recovery plan.
The public comment period is open through August 8, 2022.
View the Species Biological Report
View the Recovery Implementation Strategy
Submitting Comments
To ensure consideration, we must receive written comments on or before August 8, 2022. However, we will accept information at any time. Submit your comments on the draft document in writing by any one of the following methods:
- U.S. mail: Tara Callaway, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Desmond Dr. SE, Lacey, Washington 98503
- Email:WFWO_LR@fws.gov. Please include “Draft Island Marble Butterfly Recovery Plan Comments” in the subject line.
You may obtain a copy of the draft recovery plan online or by U.S. mail: Send a request to Tara Callaway, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Desmond Dr. SE, Lacey, Washington 98503. Telephone: 360–753–9440.
Public Availability of Comments
All comments received, including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses or other personal identifying information, will become part of the decision record and will be available to the public. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments and materials we receive will be available for public inspection by appointment.
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