Holy Smoke! Bullwinkle must surely be pleased to hear that his pal Rocky's cousin, the West Virginia northern flying squirrel, no longer faces extinction and will be removed from the federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"Our review of the status of the flying squirrel clearly portrays a story of survival, resilience and the benefits of Endangered Species Act protection," said Marvin Moriarty, regional director of the Service's Northeast Region in a press release.
The total population of the squirrel had shrunk to only 10 individuals when it was placed on the Endangered Species List in 1985. Thanks to conservation efforts, biologists counted over 1,100 squirrels at the end of 2005. Moose and squirrel prevail again.
Also See:
Mr. and Mrs. Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owl, Meet the Feds
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