For the Chesapeake logperch, the service noted that 73 percent of its range is categorized as highly or moderately resilient based on demographic information. Most of the Chesapeake logperch's range had some to no impairment, representing 76 percent or 13 of 17 analytical units. These fish primarily occur in large river habitat where the river width is over 14 meters (45.9 feet).

The review also covered five terrestrial mollusks among the reviewed species, which are typically much less than 1.1 inches (30 millimeters) in diameter. Following the decision, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invites public submission of new information regarding the status of the nine species or their habitats.

Why It Matters

This determination concludes a regulatory process initiated earlier in the year when the Interior Department published a proposed rule titled "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding for the San Francisco Estuary Distinct Population Segment of White Sturgeon" on July 21, 2026. The final rule, titled "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Nine Species Not Warranted for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species", was published by the Interior Department on September 4, 2026.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is a United States federal government agency responsible for these listings. The Wildlife Service is a United States federal agency division that protects and promotes U.S. agricultural health, regulates genetically engineered organisms, administers the Animal Welfare Act, and manages wildlife damage. The decision ensures that these specific populations remain outside the scope of federal conservation mandates unless new data emerges.

Timeline

The species involved include the Big Bar hesperian (Vespericola pressleyi), Chesapeake logperch (Percina bimaculate), Kirtland's snake (Clonophis kirtlandii), orangefin madtom (Noturus gilberti), Shasta chaparral (Trilobopsis roperi), Shasta hesperian (Vespericola shasta), Shasta sideband (Monadenia troglodytes troglodytes), tall western penstemon (Penstemon hesperius), and Wintu sideband (Monadenia troglodytes wintu). The assessment found that most of the Chesapeake logperch's range had some to no impairment, representing 76 percent or 13 of 17 analytical units, and that the five terrestrial mollusks among the reviewed species are typically much less than 1.1 inches (30 millimeters) in diameter. The findings were filed on September 3, 2026.

What's New

Later reporting confirmed that the Interior Department published a rule titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Nine Species Not Warranted for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species on September 4, 2026. Additional context identifies the Fish and Wildlife Service as a United States federal government agency. The Interior Department had previously published a proposed rule titled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding for the San Francisco Estuary Distinct Population Segment of White Sturgeon on July 21, 2026.