Action timeline

April 20, 2010 – The Center filed its petition to list 404 aquatic species from the southeastern United States, including the Florida Keys mole skink, under the Endangered Species Act.

September 27, 2011 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued positive 90-day findings, as required by the Act, for 374 of the 404 petitioned aquatic species, including Florida Keys mole skinks.

May 22, 2012 – The Center sent a notice of intent to sue the Service for its failure to issue 12-month findings for 25 species of southeastern amphibians and reptiles, including the Florida Keys mole skink.

February 20, 2013 – The Center sent a notice of intent to sue the Service for failing to make a timely decision on whether the Florida Keys mole skink and MacGillivray's seaside sparrow warranted Endangered Species Act protections.

June 27, 2013 – The Center filed a lawsuit against the Service for failing to protect four Florida species, including the Florida Keys mole skink, under the Endangered Species Act.

September 23, 2013 – The Center reached a legal agreement requiring the Fish and Wildlife Service to make a decision on Endangered Species Act protection for the mole skink by 2017.

October 4, 2017 –  In response to our petition, the new Trump administraion's Fish and Wildlife Service denied Endangered Species Act protection to the Florida Keys mole skink, along with 24 other highly imperiled species.

Florida Keys mole skink photo   Jake Scott