SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity today launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program for killing California beavers and harming native salmon, southwestern willow flycatchers and other endangered wildlife that uses habitats created by beavers.

In California last year, Wildlife Services killed nearly 1,000 beavers using firearms, traps and snares.

“California’s beavers need to be protected, not persecuted,” said Collette Adkins, a Center attorney and biologist. “Beavers are nature’s engineers, building dams and ponds that help endangered fish and frogs. Our federal government needs to stop shooting and trapping native beavers whose ponds are safe havens for other wildlife.”

Of course this is an echo of the suit already launched by EPIC and the Western Environmental Law center 6 months ago and sure they’re late to the fight, but yes, make room for CBD at the table because they’re turning their full firepower on and going after Wildlife Services. Of course you and I both that the vast majority of beaver depredation happens outside the auspices of WS but this can’t hurt. Point out how important beavers are to salmon. Make the case to the public that killing beavers is the same as killing salmon. Yes let’s all welcome them on board.

Last year, in response to a similar litigation threat, Wildlife Services agreed to stop killing beavers, river otter, muskrat and mink in Oregon.

Numerous studies show beavers benefit endangered salmon and steelhead by building ponds with natural cover and food for the fish. Endangered frogs and birds, including Oregon spotted frogs and southwestern willow flycatchers, rely on wetland habitats formed by beaver dams.

But Wildlife Services kills beavers without considering the impacts to other animals that rely on their dams and ponds to survive.

For example, over a 10-year period in Sacramento County, Wildlife Services killed more than 1,000 beavers, even though federally protected Chinook salmon and steelhead live there and use habitats created by beavers.

Oh i like that. Tie it directly to Sacramento county, which btw has been number 2 in beaver depredation every year we’ve looked at records. Sacramento county with its precious levee system that is constantly accusing beavers of tunneling through their retaining walls.

“Not only are beavers ecologically important, they’re smart, hardworking and adorable,” said Adkins. “My heart breaks for the thousands of beavers needlessly shot and trapped by Wildlife Services.”

Wildlife Services has never analyzed how its killing of beavers affects California’s endangered wildlife, even though the Endangered Species Act requires such study.

Her heart breaks? Hmm that’s an odd thing to say in court, but okay. Yours and mine don’t break. They get steely like flint with resolve. Our hearts get less gullible, less patient. And very very observant.

Today’s notice letter starts a 60-day clock until the Center can file its lawsuit to compel Wildlife Services to comply with the Endangered Species Act.

Well bring the fatted calf because CBD has decided to help beavers in California and regardless of how long it took them or why they delayed they’re here now and this argument just got a heckofalot more interesting.