The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the Peñasco least chipmunk, a mammal found in New Mexico, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Approximately 4,386 acres in Lincoln County, New Mexico, have been designated as critical habitat for the chipmunk. This decision aims to provide protections against threats such as habitat loss, disease, and small population size. Certain areas, including parts managed by the Mescalero Apache Tribe, have been excluded from the critical habitat designation to maintain effective partnerships and recognize tribal management of their lands.
Simple Explanation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to protect a special kind of chipmunk in New Mexico by calling it endangered, making sure its home is safe, but leaving out some parts owned by a Native American tribe to work nicely together.