U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

08/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/07/2024 07:40

Cedar Key mole skink

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list the Cedar Key mole skinkas endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is also proposing critical habitatfor the species. 

"The Cedar Key mole skink is a unique and important part of the local ecosystem," said Billy Brooks, fish and wildlife biologist for the Service's Southeast Region."By taking this science-based step we are ensuring this species will continue to be an important part of the ecosystem and that it will be here for future generations."

The slim, tan Cedar Key mole skink is a small, secretive, and elusive lizard. Mole skinks are semi-fossorial, meaning they dig, burrow and live underground. Cedar Key mole skinks are often found underneath ground cover such as seagrass wrack, leaves, and logs that accumulate on beaches and dunes. They are only found in small numbers on 10 islands within the Cedar Keys in Levy County, Florida. Coastal erosion, severe storms, and sea level rise driven by climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Learn more about climate change are threatening the species after development has reduced its habitat.     The Service is proposing to designate 2,713 acres of critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink, in Levy County, Florida. This area will help future resiliency for habitat loss from sea level rise. Approximately 1,139 acres, or 42 percent of the proposed critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink overlaps with proposed critical habitat for the red knot, a federally threatened species. Additionally, the proposed critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink overlaps with the ranges of other co-occurring listed species including piping plovers, eastern black rails, eastern indigo snake and Florida salt marsh salt marsh
Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater.

Learn more about salt marsh voles.Private landowners are not affected by the critical habitat designation unless there is an action involving federal funds, permits, or activities. This designation does not affect land ownership, establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve or other conservation area conservation area
A conservation area or wildlife management area is a type of national wildlife refuge that consists primarily or entirely of conservation easements on private lands. These conservation easements support private landowner efforts to protect important habitat for fish and wildlife. There are 13 conservation areas and nine wildlife management areas in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Learn more about conservation area , nor does it allow the government or public to access private lands. Critical habitat requires federal agencies to consult with the Service if their actions may adversely modify or destroy critical habitat for listed species.

For more information on this proposed listing and critical habitat for the Cedar Key mole skink, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.

This proposal is available here. https://www.regulations.gov.  Search for Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0053. Submit comments by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 7, 2024. The agency must receive requests for public hearings by September 23, 2024 in writing to: email Lourdes Menaor hard copy: Florida Ecological Services Office, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256-7517.