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A species of bumblebee has been recognised as endangered in the US

President Donald Trump appears to be taking the issue seriously.
President Donald Trump appears to be taking the issue seriously. President Donald Trump appears to be taking the issue seriously.

The rusty patched bumblebee has finally been recognised by President Donald Trump as an endangered species in the US.

Donald Trump
Donald Trump
(Niall Carson/PA)

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), just 20 years ago the rusty patched bumblebee was a common sight, but it’s now balancing precariously on the brink of extinction and has become the first-ever bumblebee to be declared endangered in the US.

A White House memo back in January instructed agencies to withdraw or freeze a broad array of rules issued by the Obama administration to protect public health and the environment, meaning the rusty patched bumblebee was momentarily forgotten about.

The Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) filed a lawsuit four days after the freeze took effect – and it looks like it has paid off.

Bumblebee
Bumblebee
(USGS/Flickr)

“The Trump administration reversed course and listed the rusty patched bumblebee as an endangered species just in the nick of time. Federal protections may be the only thing standing between the bumblebee and extinction,” said Rebecca Riley, senior attorney with the NRDC.

This could spell positive steps forward by Trump for environmental issues.