Unique Alabama Salamander Now Federally Protected
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that it would protect a rare Alabama salamander under the Endangered Species Act. The Black Warrior waterdog, sometimes called the Alabama mudpuppy, is large, strange, and found only in the state.
Black Warrior waterdogs are nocturnal and can be almost a foot long. Their permeable skin and external gills make them sensitive to declines in water quality. That’s one reason the Fish and Wildlife Service listed them as endangered: their numbers have fallen because of habitat destruction and pollution in the Black Warrior River Basin from industrial plants, landfills, sewage treatment plants, construction, forestry, poultry farms, cattle feedlots, and mines. Dams disrupt the creatures’ lifecycle, too.
The Wildlife Service also designated 420 miles of the river and tributaries across 10 counties as critical habitat for the waterdog. Many of these places are already designated as critical for other endangered species, so regulators say little further action is needed.
A statement from the Fish and Wildlife Service says, “The habitat designation should have minimal or no impact on the forestry and coal mining community.”
But private landowners could face extra hurdles for projects that need federal funding or permits.
The Black Warrior waterdog was first put on the candidate list for federal protection in 1982. The Center for Biological Diversity, a national nonprofit conservation group based in Tucson, petitioned for the salamander’s protection in 2004 and again in 2010. Today’s decision is partly a result of CBD efforts.
“Aquatic salamanders like the Black Warrior waterdog are indicator species that reflect the health of the environment we all share,” says CBD senior scientist Tierra Curry. “Protecting this special amphibian and its habitat will help protect water quality for both waterdogs and people.”
In Birmingham, Black Warrior Riverkeeper staff attorney Eva Dillard says, “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made our New Year happy today.”
But the group didn’t get everything it had hoped for.
Dillard says the Wildlife Service had originally “proposed to designate 669 river miles within eleven tributaries of the Black Warrior River basin as critical habitat. Unfortunately, the Service’s announcement today cuts that proposed habitat by a third … While we are disappointed that the waterdog’s habitat was not fully protected as first proposed, we are pleased with the listing of the waterdog as endangered and the designation of critical habitat for this imperiled species.”
Nelson Brooke of Black Warrior Riverkeeper took part in the peer review process. The rule goes into effect in 30 days.
The Black Warrior waterdog spends almost all its life at the bottom of streams under submerged ledges, logs and rocks. It also retains juvenile features like feathery gills and a tail fin even after it matures.
‘Songs from the Hole’: The story behind JJ’88’s documentary and visual album
The visual album and documentary Songs from the Hole tells the story of James Jacobs, the hip-hop artist JJ'88, as he reflects on his coming-of-age within California's state prison system.
Oil price surges as Iran steps up attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf
Markets seesawed on Day 13 of the war in the Middle East, as two oil tankers were struck by projectiles near Iraq's southern ports and attacks between Israel and Hezbollah intensified.
Easy-to-use solar panels are coming, but utilities are trying to delay them
Utilities are convincing lawmakers around the U.S. to delay bills that would allow people to buy solar panels, plug them into an outlet and begin generating electricity.
Trump’s war with Iran is angering some swing voters who want money spent at home
Swing voters who helped reelect President Trump in 2024 don't support his decision to go to war in Iran and instead want to see U.S. tax dollars spent tackling economic pressures facing Americans.
5 ways to resist the urge to keep looking at your phone
So you want to spend less time on your phone. How do you do that when it's designed to suck you in? Life Kit spoke to experts in behavioral science, psychology and technology for real-world advice.
The Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrant truckers shifts into higher gear
The White House wants tougher rules for commercial licenses after several high-profile crashes involving foreign-born drivers. But critics say that would do little to make the nation's roads safer.
