Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Status for the Distinct Population Segment of the North American Wolverine Occurring in the Contiguous United States; Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of the North American Wolverine in Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico

摘要

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, withdraw the proposed rule to list the distinct population segment of the North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) occurring in the contiguous United States as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This withdrawal is based on our conclusion that the factors affecting the DPS as identified in the proposed rule are not as significant as believed at the time of the proposed rule's publication (February 4, 2013). We base this conclusion on our analysis of current and future threat factors. Therefore, we withdraw our proposal to list the wolverine within the contiguous U.S. as a threatened species. As a result, we also withdraw our associated proposed rule under section 4(d) of the Act contained in the proposed listing rule and withdraw the proposed nonessential experimental population designation under section 10(j) of the Act for the southern Rocky Mountains, which published in a separate document on February 4, 2013.