Wyoming Wants Endangered Mouse Delisted

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040409/ap_on_sc/preble_s_mouse_1 ^ | Fri Apr 9,2004 | ap

[oneonly]

Wyoming Wants Endangered Mouse Delisted

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Gov. Dave Freudenthal says some members of a scientific panel that will review Wyoming's petition to remove the Preble's meadow jumping mouse from the threatened species list supported the decision to list the species in the first place.

But Freudenthal is praising the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for at least considering the state's petition.

"Fish and Wildlife has done the right thing so far in agreeing to at least consider delisting the mouse," Freudenthal said Wednesday. "I would hate to see that process derailed before it even begins by a decision to stack the deck on the peer review team in favor of keeping it listed."

Freudenthal explained his concerns in a letter dated Monday to Interior Secretary Gale Norton.

The Fish and Wildlife Service asked the Colorado Division of Wildlife to select the peer review panel. One of the members chosen has said that he believes the mouse should remain listed, according to Freudenthal.

Another member co-authored a study that was called into question by a Denver Museum of Nature and Science study that was requested by Wyoming and concluded that the mouse is not a genetically distinct subspecies.

A third panelist wrote an unpublished report saying the research relied upon when the mouse was listed was correct.

"To include these individuals on a peer review team places them in the difficult, and potentially embarrassing, situation where they may be forced to defend or admit errors regarding their previous work," Freudenthal wrote.

"At a minimum, the appearance of objectivity within the peer review team has been compromised."

Freudenthal also expressed concern that the Colorado Division of Wildlife was allowed to appoint the peer review panel. A Division of Wildlife spokesman did not return an after-hours call.

Copies of the letter were sent to Wyoming's congressional delegation, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens and others.

___

On the Net:

Center for Native Ecosystems:@ http://www.nativeecosystems.org/preblesmouse/

[oneonly]

List of Threatened Species http://www.redlist.org/

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Endangered mouse in Wyoming? Give me a frickin' break. I'm from Wyoming. The average population density in Wyoming is like 3 people per square mile. If that mouse can't find habitat, it ain't gonna make it no matter what list it's on. There's a lot more critters in Wyoming than people.

[Smartass]

Delist the mouse. After the 2004 election, they must
add all of the DumboRats to the endangered species
list, because, the Rats will be near death.

[theFIRMbss]

>Gov. Dave Freudenthal says some members of a scientific panel that will review Wyoming's petition to remove the Preble's meadow jumping mouse from the threatened species list supported the decision to list the species in the first place.

[zoso82t]

This one?

[LadyShallott]

Maybe I am confused. Wyoming is such a sparsely populated state and jumping mice reproduce at 4 to 6 babies a litter. That can happen two or three times a year for one female. Why are they endangered? I dont like a species being wiped out, but mice? If anyone has ever had mice in their home, they know that they reproduce in fast procession.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Cicero]

Trade it in for an updated infrared wheel mouse with ergonomic design.

[DustyMoment]

I thought Mickey moved to Florida decades ago!! What's up?

[MonroeDNA]

ESA must be repealed.

[katz]

Well, some group out there is wanting to protect some type of trout fish at a 3 billion cost. I guess fishermen will be happy and cattle farmers will suffer. It is all the cattlemen and loggers fault that the fish are suffer'ng.

[editor-surveyor]

"At a minimum, the appearance of objectivity within the peer review team has been compromised."

Objectivity? - We don't need no steenking objectivity!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping

[editor-surveyor]

"That can happen two or three times a year for one female..."

That can, and does happen every 24 days for most adult mice through the spring, summer, and fall months. One pair of mice often produce over 500 offspring per year, which is great for the kestrels that feed on them. (I like kestrels way more than mice too!)