ARKANSAS, USA — A snail native to Arkansas is getting a second shot at protection as an endangered species after a movement over a decade ago failed to do so.
The Center for Biological Diversity has been spearheading the effort since 2010. In a release from the center on Nov. 14, the group said that its advocacy for the species' protection is finally paying off.
"In response to more than a decade of advocacy by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today agreed to again consider granting Endangered Species Act protections to the Arkansas mudalia," the release said.
Court documents said that the center first filed a petition for the snail's protection in 2010, which wasn't denied until 2019, despite findings that "the petition presented substantial information that listing the Arkansas mudalia may be warranted."
A 2023 letter from the center threatened to challenge the decision but now things are looking favorable. The center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service came to an agreement that court documents said is "in the public interest."
Court documents said that on or before July 19, 2028, the USFWS will review the status of the snail, determining if endangered or threatened status is warranted or unwarranted.
The freshwater snail is found in Arkansas and Missouri, most notably along the North Fork River. These snails serve as indicators of stream health and indicate the effect of human activity on streams and rivers, the center said.
“I’m so glad that the Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to take a fresh look at whether to protect these rare little snails,” Trisha Sharma, a legal fellow at the center said. “They’re an important part of a beloved ecosystem, and we really need to give them a chance to recover and thrive.”
Sharma said she hopes USFWS makes the "right decision" this time.
“We’re losing freshwater wildlife to extinction at an alarming rate. Endangered Species Act protection will ensure Arkansas mudalia don’t join that list," Sharma added.
The center said that the snails' range has shrunk 90% because of worsening water quality, with water pollution from grazing, logging, mining, and dams threatening them.
The snails are also threatened by climate change, according to the center, with severe weather events and rising temperatures limiting their habitats.
"Several isolated populations have a low number of individuals, which creates a risk of genetic problems and population loss," the center said, adding that freshwater gastropods like the Arkansas mudalia are sensitive to environmental disruptions and are "some of the most imperiled species in North America."
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