I am convinced that activists actually plant these endangered species and then lead officials to them.
I am certain that it happened in our county with some silly frog that was not native to this county.
On top of that, the spotted owl only living in old growth forests is an out dated theory, considering that in WA State, a spotted owl nested in a fir tree in a traffic circle in Everett, WA. The DNR people moved the nest to a more natural location.
They have been caught at this dozens of times, and there is never any prosecution or consequences. They are even allowed to continue presenting "studies" in court after perjury.
A favorite trick is to transplant a food plant for an endangered species (particularly insects) as they tend not to wander away, and the plants are similarly protected.
The officials probably pant the ‘endangered’ species.