Action timeline

May 13, 1998 – The Preble’s meadow jumping mouse was listed as threatened as the result of a 1994 petition from the Biodiversity Legal Foundation (later to become part of the Center for Biological Diversity).  

2001 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adopted a special rule allowing harm to Preble’s mice under certain conditions, including situations involving rodent control and agricultural activities.  

June 23, 2003 – Despite an original critical habitat proposal of 57,000 acres, only 31,000 acres of critical habitat was designated for the mouse.  

August 28, 2007 – The Center filed a notice of intent to sue the Bush administration for its insufficient 2003 designation of critical habitat for the mouse, as well as for 54 other corruption-tainted Endangered Species Act decisions.

November 7, 2007 – The Service proposed the mouse for delisting in Wyoming, to retain protection only in the Colorado portion of its range. After the Center submitted extensive comments, the Service announced it would re-examine the proposal. At the same time, it agreed to re-examine its 2003 critical habitat decision.

July 10, 2008 – The Service announced it would delist the Preble's meadow jumping mouse in Wyoming despite the recommendations of scientists, claiming the mouse should only receive protections where threats are the greatest.