State officials will now have to take the necessary steps to protect wolverines from climate change after a judge rejected the decision of United States Wildlife managers to deny the Endangered Species Act protection to wolverines.
U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen ordered officials of the wildlife services to work as fast as possible in protecting the wolverine. The species is said to be defenseless against climate change. Global warming, in particular, endangers the habitat of these animals.
In 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services recommended the inclusion of the wolverine in the endangered species list, but it reversed its own proposal a year later, stating that there is not enough evidence of climate change affecting wolverines.
Environmentalists challenged the wildlife agency's decision, saying it is not considering scientific data on the wolverine population.
According to the Interior Department at the time, global warming had been causing mountain snow to melt, reducing the amount of snow in places where wolverines build their dens and store their food.
"No greater level of certainty is needed to see the writing on the wall for this snow-dependent species squarely in the path of climate change," said Christensen.
Because of "immense political pressure" in states like Idaho, the government's decision whether to protect the wolverine has been affected.
Failure to act in the case of this species also has consequences for other animals, such as Alaska's bearded seal and the Pacific Walrus, as well as coral systems.
Research has shown that more than two-thirds of the wolverine population could disappear by 2085 if measures are not taken.
Wolverines are members of the weasel family, having a population estimated to be at 300, inhabiting the Lower 48 states. These creatures thrive in deep snow dens in the mountains of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon and Washington state.
Some individual wolverines have also been reported in California and Colorado. Bigger wolverine populations can be seen in Canada and Alaska.
"Our hope is that if they apply the best available science and look at the threats, they'll make the right decision," said Matthew Bishop of Western Environmental Law Center.
Photo: Steve Slocomb | Flickr
