From US Fish & Wildlife:
On December 4, 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a 90-day finding in the Federal Register on a petition to list three grassland species – the plains spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius interrupta), the prairie gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ocythous) and the Mearn’s eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsi) – as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
We determined that the petition presents substantial information that listing of the prairie gray fox and the plains spotted skunk as endangered or threatened may be warranted due to the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; disease or predation; and other natural or man-made factors. We determined that the petitioners did not present substantial information that the population of Mearn’s eastern cottontail in east-central Illinois and western Indiana meets the criteria for a DPS.
The Service will undertake a more thorough status review of the plains spotted skunk and prairie gray fox to determine whether to propose adding the species to the federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants.
To ensure the status reviews of the plains spotted skunk and prairie gray fox are comprehensive, the Service is soliciting information from state and federal natural resource agencies and all interested parties regarding the animals and their habitat.
You may submit information on the prairie gray fox and the plains spotted skunk, by one of the following methods:
(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket No. FWS–R3–ES–2012–0079, which is the docket number for this action. Then click on the Search button. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment Now!”
(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R3–ES–2012–0079; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
The deadline to submit comments electronically to the Federal eRulemaking Portal is February 4, 2013. After that date, comments must be mailed to the address above. We will not accept e-mail or faxes.
For more information on the two subspecies and this finding, along with information on listing, the petition process, and distinct population segments, please visit www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered You can also contact Mr. Chris Davidson by email –chris_davidson@fws.gov, or telephone – (501) 513-4481.