Conservationists Sue U.S. for Delayed Protection of Endangered Olympic Marmots

The Olympic marmot, a rodent native to the alpine meadows of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, faces existential threats from climate change and increased predation by coyotes, leading to a significant decline in its habitat and population estimated between 2,000 and 4,000. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in May 2024 to grant Endangered Species Act protections for the marmot, but the agency missed the 90-day and one-year deadlines to make a determination, prompting the Center to file a lawsuit against the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior. Environmental advocates emphasize the marmots' ecological importance and the need for federal protection to ensure the survival of both the species and their alpine meadow habitats. The lawsuit highlights the federal agency’s failure to adhere to statutory deadlines, a frequent vulnerability under the Endangered Species Act. Despite ongoing citizen-scientist surveys and the marmots' presence within protected park boundaries, climate change continues to shrink their habitat, exacerbating predation risks. Advocates argue that federal protection is urgent to safeguard this unique species and its ecosystem for future generations.