Utah snail no longer considered for federal protection

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed its yearly evaluation of plants and animals that are considered candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act.

The Fish and Wildlife Service says four species are no longer candidates for ESA protection, while five species have been added and eight have received a change in priority since December 2008.

In Utah, the fat whorled pondsnail is one of the four species removed from candidate list. After a review, the service decided the pondsnail did not face a threat sufficient to warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.

There are currently 249 species of plants and animals under consideration for ESA protection.

— Associated Press