The US Fish and Wildlife Service unlawfully denied Endangered Species Act protections to the southern hognose snake, depriving the species of critical protections to ensure its survival, an environmental conservation group alleged in a new lawsuit filed in federal court.
The Center for Biological Diversity claimed that the agency rejected its petition to protect the snake—which is found in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi—based on a flawed analysis that didn’t take into account important threats that it faces.
The snake is among the rarest and most threatened snake species in North America—having experienced significant declines ...