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Montana news about the environment, natural resources, wildlife, climate change and more.

Officials draft recovery plan for two insect species threatened by climate change

Researchers survey for stoneflies in the backcountry of Glacier National Park, Sept 1, 2019. Two species of stonefly were listed as "threatened" due to warmer water, drought and diminishing meltwater from vanishing glaciers.
Nick Mott
/
Montana Public Radio
Researchers survey for stoneflies in the backcountry of Glacier National Park, Sept 1, 2019. Two species of stonefly were listed as "threatened" due to warmer water, drought and diminishing meltwater from vanishing glaciers.

Federal wildlife officials have announced a draft recovery plan for two endangered insects that rely on dwindling cold-water sources. The insects are found in Montana, Wyoming and Alberta.

The meltwater lednian and western glacier stoneflies require cold flowing water from glaciers or snowfields to survive. Scientists predict those cold-water sources could be gone by 2030 due to climate change.

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a plan that calls for maintaining about 3,000 acres of known habitat, surveying for additional populations and identifying possible locations to introduce the insects.

Public comment on the draft plan will be open through early February.

Aaron joined the MTPR team in 2019. He reports on all things in northwest Montana and statewide health care.

aaron@mtpr.org or call/text at 612-799-1269
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