Petition For Protection Of Makah Copper Butterfly Under The U.S. Endangered Species Act

The Makah copper butterfly (Tharsalea mariposa makah) was proposed for listing in 2024 through a petition submitted by the Xerces Society.

The Makah copper lives in a special environment, the coastal Sphagnum moss peatlands in Clallam County, WA. As caterpillars, Makah coppers feed on bog cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos). Adults are active in the summer and can typically be seen from late July through August. Among the various threats this species faces, habitat loss, degradation, and climate change are the most pressing.