Island Marble Butterfly recovery plan open for public comment (updated)

||| FROM CYRUS FORMAN for SJI NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK |||

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 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.

The island marble butterfly, a beautiful, medium-sized, white butterfly with green ‘marbling’ on its wings, was historically known from southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands of Canada. It went undetected for 90 years until being rediscovered in 1998 on San Juan Island, Washington. Currently, the only remaining known population is in the American Camp Unit, of San Juan Island National Historical Park. Despite subsequent ongoing conservation efforts, such as captive rearing and habitat protection, the butterfly is in danger of extinction. The small population size of the butterfly makes it especially vulnerable to threats, including habitat loss and predation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses a range of conservation tools to recover threatened and endangered species.  A recovery plan provides guidance on how best to help listed species achieve recovery and is not a regulatory document. The draft recovery plan and supporting documents are available online now.

To ensure consideration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must receive written comments on or before August 8, 2022.  However, they will accept information at any time. Interested persons can submit 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: tara_callaway@fws.gov Please include “Draft Island Marble Butterfly Recovery Plan Comments” in the subject line.

You may also obtain a copy of the draft recovery plan 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.