Deadlines Approaching for Endangered Status of Fish and Cactus Species

Santa Fe: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has some important decisions to make. They need to figure out if the Rio Grande shiner fish and Clover’s cactus in New Mexico should be listed as endangered.

A court in Arizona has given them until September 2026 for the fish and September 2027 for the cactus. The cactus is found in a few counties in northwestern New Mexico, like Rio Arriba and Sandoval.

The main threats to the cactus include oil and gas drilling, off-roading, and illegal collecting. As for the fish, it’s struggling due to river fragmentation and drought.

Interestingly, the shiner was flagged for potential endangered status back in 1982. But it wasn’t until 2020 that WildEarth Guardians pushed to get both species listed.

In 2024, the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians took legal action against the federal agency for dragging its feet on this decision. Now, these deadlines are part of a settlement agreement.

Joanna Zhang from WildEarth Guardians said that these deadlines are crucial for protecting both species. She emphasized that every day without action brings them closer to extinction.