Action timeline

May 11, 2004 – The Center and Sierra Club petitioned to emergency-list the Casey’s June beetle under the Endangered Species Act.

October 4, 2005 – The Center and Sierra Club sued the Service for failure to respond to the listing petition.

August 8, 2006 – In response to a Center-initiated suit, the Service issued a positive 90-day finding, determining that listing of the Casey’s June beetle may be warranted.

July 5, 2007 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the Casey’s June beetle deserved protection under the Endangered Species Act. But the Service also decided the Casey’s June beetle would not receive endangered species protection, instead putting it on a list of 279 candidate species awaiting action by the administration. The rationale for this position? Other “higher priority” listing work “precluded” the Service from taking steps to protect this species. In 2006, the Center filed a lawsuit challenging the basis for this list and the Fish and Wildlife Service’s failure to make “expeditious” progress moving the species on the list toward protection.

July 8, 2009 – The Service finally proposed Endangered Species Act protection for the Casey’s June beetle, in addition proposing to designate 777 acres of critical habitat for the species.