Legless Lizard Lives Free: No Endangered Status for California Critter
Published Date: 5/4/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed whether the Temblor legless lizard should be protected as endangered or threatened and decided it doesn’t need that status right now. This lizard lives in parts of California, and the decision means no new rules or costs will happen for now. But the public can still share new info anytime to help keep an eye on this cool creature’s future.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No ESA Listing — No New Rules Now
If you own or develop land in parts of California (the Temblor and Diablo foothills and nearby San Joaquin Valley areas in Kern, Kings, Fresno, and a bit of San Luis Obispo Counties), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on May 4, 2026 that the Temblor legless lizard is not warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act right now. That means no new ESA listing rules or related costs will apply for now to activities in the species' roughly 90-mile by 8-mile range.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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