In July, the Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan was officially designated as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act, responding to a 14-year petition by conservationists. This designation aims to preserve the bird that relies on the glaciers of the Cascade Mountains, which are shrinking due to climate change. The ptarmigan, adapted to alpine environments, faces habitat loss as glaciers recede, jeopardizing its food sources and overall survival.
Under the ESA, a species can be listed as either threatened or endangered. The ESA provides "fairly robust protections," said Jessica Wentz, a senior fellow at Columbia's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law.
The Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan is adapted to high elevation regions above the treeline, with feathered, snowshoe-like feet aiding movement on high mountain terrain.
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