Scientists to monitor if endangered beetles can live on own

EL DORADO SPRINGS, Mo. (AP) Scientists are preparing to end a seven-year program that has reintroduced the first federally endangered species to Missouri because the beetles are showing signs they could survive on their own…

…Merz tells the Joplin Globe that the program has seen "positive trends that indicate it is time to see how the beetles are doing on their own."

…Merz says they'll continue to monitor the species, but that the beetles will have to find their own food sources… kek!

…Some groups have argued that the beetle should be reclassified from endangered to threatened, or even taken off the list.

Chad Warmington, president of oil and gas industry trade group OIPA-OKOGA, said downlisting the endangered beetle would relieve oil and gas producers of regulations that require them to obtain additional permits and work around the remaining populations.

Warmington said the regulations can be expensive and time consuming.

https://www.apnews.com/f4895d2b83ef4ca28ccd87327d3e54f5