W.Va., Va. flying squirrel subject of federal lawsuit

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CHARLESTON, W.Va.  — Environmental groups have sued a federal agency for removing a flying squirrel found only in high mountain forests of West Virginia and Virginia from the endangered species list.

The groups argue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service didn’t follow its own protocols when it removed the northern flying squirrel from protected status.

The squirrel subspecies dates back to the Ice Age. It was placed on the list in 1985 after only 10 animals were found.

Wildlife biologists started efforts to delist the flying squirrel after a 2006 study located 1,200 animals in 109 sites.

A Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a call. The Department of Interior declined to comment on the litigation.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Washington.

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Reader Reactions

Flag Comment Posted by Randy on November 12, 2009 at 5:27 pm

We should start sueing the Environmentalists for wasting tax payer dollars. Do not send these guys your hard earned money. This is what they do with it.

Flag Comment Posted by tman70043 on November 12, 2009 at 4:12 pm

1200 gets them removed from an endangered list? 1200? Guess if it reaches 2000 they will implement a hunting season?

Flag Comment Posted by GodFather on November 12, 2009 at 4:08 pm

Environmentalists are so stupid.  Dont they know that Flying Squirrels just picked up a whole franchise?  They have not played one came yet, and already they are condemning them to the ash heap of history.

Tsk, Tsk.

Flag Comment Posted by drhoagie on November 12, 2009 at 3:41 pm

So called “environmentalists” could care less about flying squirrels or Bullwinkle or Professor Peabody.
They, like all Marxists (look no further then Washington DC 2009), are only interested in control and power.
The removal of any “endangered species” means one more species they cannot control.

Flag Comment Posted by BeResponsible on November 12, 2009 at 3:18 pm

Flying Squirrels aren’t endangered!  We will have many of them right here in Richmond come spring!

Flag Comment Posted by thoughtful_read on November 12, 2009 at 3:18 pm

Shouldn’t this be posted on the sports page?

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