Action timeline

August 18, 2006 – The Palouse Prairie Foundation, Palouse Audubon Society, Friends of the Clearwater, and three individuals petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the giant Palouse earthworm as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

August 27, 2007 – The Center prepared and filed with the petitioners a notice of intent to sue the Service for its failure to respond to the petition.

October 30, 2007 – After the Service released a finding that a 2006 petition contained insubstantial information to warrant an endangered listing for the earthworm, the Center and petitioners notified the Service that they would sue to ensure that the species receives the protection it deserves.

January 24, 2008 – The Center, Palouse Prairie Foundation, Palouse Audubon, Friends of the Clearwater, and two individuals filed suit against the Service to overturn the agancy's decision that the earthworm did not warrant protection.