Fish and Wildlife Service considers removing Central Coast plant from endangered species list

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it is considering removing a plant native to the Central Coast from the endangered species list.

The San Benito evening primrose is an annual plant with yellow flowers found in San Benito, Monterey and Fresno Counties. The Fish and Wildlife Service said it was thought to be in danger of extinction, but it is now being found more often.

“Whenever we can propose the delisting of a species due to ESA-inspired partnerships and improved science is a good day,” said Service director Aurelia Skipwith. “Thanks to the efforts of the Bureau of Land Management over the course of three decades, our scientific understanding of the San Benito evening primrose has improved and habitat for the plant has been restored and protected.” 

The evening primrose was listed as threatened in 1985 because of threats from motorized recreation and commercial mining. When it was listed, the Fish and Wildlife Service said the primrose was only found in nine places in a small area of San Benito County, but now they can be found in more than 100 areas in parts of San Benito, Monterey and Fresno Counties.

The proposal to delist the San Benito evening primrose will be published in the Federal Register on June 1. After that, there will be a 60 day public comment period. Comments will need to be submitted by July 31.