Salamander Faces Extinction: Lawsuit Filed for Protection

The Center for Biological Diversity has initiated legal action against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service due to protracted delays in granting endangered species protections to the yellow-spotted woodland salamander. This species, with an estimated population of only 200-400 individuals, inhabits shale and sandstone rockfaces across West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. These areas are heavily impacted by mountaintop removal mining, a primary driver of habitat loss.

The agency acknowledged in January 2024 that the salamander may qualify for protections under the Endangered Species Act, but a formal decision and subsequent conservation plan have yet to be implemented, two years after an initial petition. Conservation groups warn that without swift federal intervention, the salamander faces imminent extinction, compounded by threats from disease, pollution, and invasive species.

This lawsuit occurs amidst proposed regulatory changes by the Department of the Interior that could potentially narrow the scope of critical habitat designations and limit the criteria for species protection. The Center emphasizes that Appalachia is a global biodiversity hotspot for salamanders, with a staggering 60% of species currently threatened with extinction.