Lawsuit seeks protection for Western gray squirrel

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Three environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit yesterday seeking to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Western gray squirrel for protection under the Endangered Species Act, saying a proposed highway in Pierce County threatens it.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Portland, site of Fish and Wildlife's regional headquarters, challenges the agency's June decision that the Western gray squirrel does not warrant federal protection.

"We did determine that this population was discrete but not significant, and that was based on genetic analysis," as well as studies of species behavior and geographic distribution, Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Joan Jewett said.

The plaintiffs -- the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, the Tahoma Audubon Society and the Center for Biological Diversity -- disagree. They say a highway slated to cut through Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base would threaten the rare squirrel.

"The construction of the Cross-Base Highway through the best remaining oak woodlands habitat in south Puget Sound will mean the end for this distinct population," said Dave Werntz, the science director for the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, an environmental group based in Bellingham.

Washington has three Western gray squirrel populations, in Thurston and Pierce counties; in eastern Skamania County and Klickitat and Yakima counties; and in Chelan and Okanogan counties.

In the early 1990s, researchers counted 81 Western grays near Fort Lewis, the species' last stronghold in the Puget Sound region.

A more thorough survey in 1998 and 1999 found only six.

What a bunch of MORONS. They should have been at my house fighting the fire because the day after it swept through I found at least a dozen fried Squirrels and a bunch of rabbits that couldn't outrun the fire. OH! I forgot, it's because of these IDIOTS that the fires got sooo out of hand in the first place. >:< >:< >:< >:< >:< >:< >:<

Copper,
Is it true they taste like potato chips if you cook them for a long time on an open fire?
I hear the meat if real tender and full of flavor.. :?

More like pork rinds :lick:

I heard when you throw them - its like when we were kids throwing moms cookie sheets.. they fly forever..