Island marble butterfly draft recovery plan accepting comments

Photo credit: Karen Reagan, USFWS

San Juan Island National Historic Park shares news about a federal plan to help the vulnerable island marble butterfly.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the availability of a draft recovery plan for the island marble butterfly and a 60-day public comment period.

The island marble butterfly, a beautiful, medium-sized, white butterfly with green ‘marbling’ on its wings, was historically known from southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands of Canada. It went undetected for 90 years until being rediscovered in 1998 on San Juan Island, Washington.

Currently, the only remaining known population is in the American Camp Unit of San Juan Island National Historical Park. Despite subsequent ongoing conservation efforts, such as captive rearing and habitat protection, the butterfly is in danger of extinction. The small population size of the butterfly makes it especially vulnerable to threats, including habitat loss and predation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses a range of conservation tools to recover threatened and endangered species. A recovery plan provides guidance on how best to help listed species achieve recovery and is not a regulatory document. The draft recovery plan and supporting documents are available online.

To ensure consideration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must receive written comments by Monday, Aug. 8. Interested persons can submit comments on the draft document in writing by U.S mail or email:

• U.S. mail: Tara Callaway, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Desmond Dr. SE, Lacey, Washington 98503
• Email: [email protected]. Please include Draft Island Marble Butterfly Recovery Plan Comments in the subject line.

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.