MIAMI – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that it is taking emergency action to protect the Miami blue butterfly.
Beginning on Aug. 10, the butterfly, a small, coastal, non-migratory butterfly found in parts of the Florida Keys, will be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
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The emergency listing protects the butterfly for 240-days.
The Miami blue had previously been on the federal watch list for 27 years before being classified as endangered.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it was now moving to permanently put into place the protections for the Miami blue, beyond the 240-day emergency period.