Colorado cactus removed from endangered species list after nearly 50 years
The Colorado hookless cactus is a small, barrel-shaped cactus with pink flowers that bloom in late April and early May. It is usually found around the Gunnison River basins and canyons in western Colorado. While these cacti are usually found in Colorado — they thrive in semi-arid, high-elevation desert environments — there wasn't exactly a surplus in the state.
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Since 1979, the service said it was federally listed as a threatened species. That is, until the service announced on Wednesday that it had removed the cactus from the federal list of endangered and threatened plants due to its recovery.
The service said threats to the cactus were eliminated or reduced, and the species no longer meets the definition of a threatened or endangered species. Recent scientific data also shows the species is 'more abundant than previously known at the time of listing.'
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'This decision is based on the best available scientific and commercial information and reflects ongoing conservation efforts and improved scientific data on the species,' the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said in a press release.
The service said this is thanks to the help of the recovery partners, which include the Bureau of Land Management, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program and the Denver Botanic Gardens.
While the species is no longer considered threatened or endangered, the service said it will continue to work with partners to monitor the species' long-term stability.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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