Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit in the federal district court for the District of Columbia asking the court to require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to finalize critical habitat designation for the Southern Sierra Nevada distinct population segment of the fisher, a medium-sized furry carnivore in the same family as weasels, mink, martens, and otters. The complaint alleged that habitat destruction and climate change had contributed to range-wide decline of the species. FWS listed the Southern Sierra Nevada population as endangered in May 2020 but failed to designate critical habitat within the timeline required by the Endangered Species Act. CBD asked the court to direct FWS to finalize critical habitat designation by a date certain.