The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is gearing up to issue an incidental take permit amidst plans for the Winnebago Heights Development in Sauk County, a measure that paves the way for the Ho-Chunk Nation to proceed with their development of multiple home-building parcels despite the presence of the state-endangered slender glass lizard in the area. For those unfamiliar, "incidental take" is the unintentional loss of endangered or threatened species that is not expected to impact the species' overall chance of survival. This situation arises as the Department concludes, the development's implications are unlikely to jeopardize the slender glass lizard's continued existence within the state, according to a news release from the Wisconsin DNR.
Previously characterized by undisturbed rolling herbaceous vegetation, the habitat of the endangered lizard is now the site of planned construction activity, including the use of heavy machinery. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed that incidental taking of some lizards is likely. According to the agency, conservation measures will be implemented to support the continued presence of the species in the area.
These conservation measures are a required component of the Incidental Take Permit, which aims to align development activities with environmental protection standards. The DNR has indicated that the project is not expected to significantly impact the species’ survival or recovery within the state, the broader plant and animal community it belongs to, or the critical habitat necessary for its continued existence.
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