Wisconsin DNR Reduces Areas for Butler’s Garter

Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources has reduced the number of areas it wants designated as critical habitat for the Butler’s Garter Snake from 65 to 40; it says that the lower number will still not affect the health of the species, which is threatened in that state. Presumably this step was taken in the hope that it would ease tensions between the DNR, land developers who felt constrained by the protection measures, and the Republican legislators in their pocket.