Feds move to protect blue butterflies

Some butterflies would enjoy added protections under proposed rules from the Obama administration.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced Monday it is considering designating a critical habitat for the endangered Mount Charleston blue butterfly. This comes after the FWS added the blue butterfly to the Endangered Species List last October. 

The blue butterfly is native to the Spring Mountains on the outskirts of Las Vegas, where the FWS is looking to establish a critical habitat of more than 5,500 acres to further protect these insects. 

The FWS said the blue butterfly is threatened by changes to its environment, such as recreation development projects and non-native plants entering the area. It is also affected by droughts.

The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed critical habitat.