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Center For Biological Diversity Sues Over Climate Change Threats To Glacier Stoneflies

Western Glacier Stonefly
U.S. Geological Service
Western Glacier Stonefly

A lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Center for Biological Diversity could force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make a decision on whether protect an insect only found in Glacier National Park.Tierra Curry, a scientist for the Center for Biological Diversity says climate change threatens western glacier stoneflies with extinction.

"The story of the stonefly in Glacier is representative what is happening around the globe right now, in difference places where conditions are changing so fast that the species that have always lived there can’t survive there anymore."

U.S. Geological Survey Scientist Joe Giersch says when a species is added list based on climate change, it’s uncertain what that will do to help secure the species survival.

If the stonefly is added to the list of endangered species, Curry hopes that will push the Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a recovery plan. That would mean bringing stoneflies into a captive breeding program.

Curry predicts that in the current climate the species could go extinct in the 15 years.

A Fish and Wildlife Spokesman says the agency does not comment on pending litigation.

Corin Cates-Carney manages MTPR’s daily and long-term news projects. After spending more than five years living and reporting across Western and Central Montana, he became news director in early 2020.
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