Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse

(Denver, Colorado) In 1954, a study was conducted of three museum specimens and a determination was made that the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse is a genetically distinct sub-species. In 1998, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used the study as the basis for classifying the Preble's mouse as "threatened" in accordance with the provisions of the Endangered Species Act.

Since 1998, because the vermin mouse is threatened:

One land development company, Omnivest Realty, has spent more than $1,000,000 for mouse habitat protection and due to delays in planned projects.

The taxpayers of Douglas County have spent about $850,000 in legal fees protecting the mouse, according to County Commissioner Jim Sullivan.

Construction was delayed on the $4,000,000 Castle Rock Town Hall in 1999.

A 230-acre residential project near Roxborough Park and planned affordable housing also experienced delays according to Douglas County planner Mark Knight.

Completion of a recreational trail between two state parks has been indefinitely delayed.

And, over 31,000 acres of land has been designated "critical habitat" for the mouse along various Colorado and Wyoming waterways.

With these results, I'm sure that many ecologically-minded Americans are satisfied. They have impeded business and sucked funds from the taxpayers for the sake of a perceived (their perception) problem with having an inadequate number of mice in the United States. I'm fairly certain that, if left alone, the existence or disappearance of this particular group of rodents will have no substantive impact on present or future generations of human beings on the earth. But, because of the Endangered Species Act, they do have an impact and it's all negative.

But, wait! The 1954 study of three specimens from which the "threatened" designation was based is now being refuted. Rob Roy Ramey, chairman of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science's Zoology Department, has released results of new research which examined 176 DNA sequences and the skulls of 39 mice and determined that Preble's mouse is not a genetically distinct sub-species worthy of protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has taken Ramey's findings under advisement with a defensive attitude of implacable reluctance.

Fish and Wildlife Colorado Field Office spokeswoman Diane Katzenberger said the agency is simply being deliberate in its research.

"Doctor Ramey's study presents important new genetic information, but it's still preliminary," she said, adding that Ramey's work would first have to undergo a peer review when it is published in a scientific journal. The agency may then enlist its own outside experts to review the findings.

"If the genetic data suggests that a de-listing is warranted and if the threat to mouse habitats has been reduced, we may reassess our position," she said.

That process could take more than a year, said Peter Plage, a biologist with Fish and Wildlife's Colorado field office.

In summary, the Preble's mouse was designated as "threatened" based on the results of a cursory study 50 years ago. Because of the designation, millions of taxpayer and private dollars have been spent. A new and more credible examination indicates that the results of the original 1954 study were flawed. Upon notification, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has indicated they are not impressed and plan on sitting on the information. So the Preble's mouse remains threatened.

My take is that the Endangered Species Act should be repealed. It consistently promotes the best interests of wildlife while completely ignoring the best interests of American citizens.

[Update 1/9/04, 6am] I became aware of some closely related writing at Knowledge Problem which has a compilation post on the Endangered Species Act. Completely under my radar was the fact that the ESA recently achieved 30 years as law. The post is well written and informative.