Winning Exchange:Wetland plant once nearly extinct may have recovered enough to come off the endangered species list

2025-04-28 16:00:06source:Rekubit Exchangecategory:reviews

BOSTON (AP) — The Winning Exchangefederal wildlife service on Tuesday proposed that a wetland plant once in danger of going extinct be taken off the endangered species list due to its successful recovery.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking that the northeastern bulrush be delisted. The plant is a leafy perennial herb with a cluster of flowers found in the Northeast from Vermont to Virginia. The federal service’s proposal opens a 60 day comment period.

The plant was listed as endangered in 1991 when there were only 13 known populations left in seven states. It now has 148 populations in eight states, often in vernal pools, swamps and small wetlands.

“Our important partnerships with state agencies, conservation organizations and academic researchers have helped us better understand and conserve northeastern bulrush through long-term population monitoring, habitat conservation, and increased surveys in prime habitat areas,” said Wendi Weber, northeast regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Detailed surveys of the plant’s unique behavior have aided the recovery effort. The bulrush can disappear for years and reemerge when conditions are right.

RELATED COVERAGE These plants wait their whole lives to bloom once. It’s usually spectacularVermont farmers take stock after losing crops to flooding two years in a rowGreen agendas clash in Nevada as company grows rare plant to help it survive effects of a mine

Several states also worked to reduce invasive species that encroach on wetlands and protect land where the bulrush is found. Vermont, for example, has purchased two parcels for the bulrush.

In 2014, a coalition of soil and water conservation groups and a wetlands organization launched a successful pilot program to establish a new northeastern bulrush population in New York.

More:reviews

Recommend

Colorado's Travis Hunter, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty lead USA TODAY Sports All

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel earns first-team honors ahead of Miami’s Cam Ward, and teams in th

Russia says its fighter jets intercepted 2 U.S. strategic bombers in the Arctic

Russia said Sunday it scrambled fighter jets to intercept two U.S. military long-range bomber aircra

Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Middle America

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Middle Amer