Thursday, September 13, 2012

ObamaVironment: Endangered Eyeless Spider Indefinitely Delays $15M Texas Highway Project

September 12, 2012 11:14 AM

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (CBS Houston) — An endangered eyeless spider is holding up a $15 million Texas highway project.

Construction of the highway underpass project on Texas 151 was indefinitely delayed after a biologist consultant with the Texas Department of Transportation discovered the Braken Bat Cave meshweaver, according to San Antonio Express-News.

The Express-News reports the spider, which is about the size of a dime, was added to the endangered species list 12 years ago.

Dr Jean Krejca of Zara Environmental told the paper the finding of this spider is like ”stumbling on a new Galapagos Island.”

Department spokesperson Josh Donat says it’s just now a wait-and-see plan on what to do.

“We have to wait until the Fish and Wildlife Service gives us the thumbs up for plan B or plan C or whatever plan we end up going with,” he told KSAT-TV.

Donat added that the finding was a “huge surprise.”

“It’s phenomenal. Those who are really into spiders geek out about it,” Donat told KSAT. “This is really cool.”

Construction for the $15 million highway project started in April.

This is the second time this type of spider has been found in the world, both times being in Bexar County, Texas.

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