BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is fighting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's plan to list a rare plant as endangered, saying ranchers are already working to protect it in southwestern Idaho's sage-covered desert.

The Republican governor is challenging the listing, whose effective date is Dec. 7, in U.S. District Court. He contends the slickspot peppergrass population is at its highest level since 2003.

Listing could result limits on grazing and other activities on public lands and Otter fears it will scare ranchers from voluntary efforts to save other sensitive species like sage grouse, the Idaho Statesman reported Tuesday.

Federal officials and environmentalists say the plant's habitat is vulnerable, due to wildfire and invasive plants.

Todd Tucci, an environmental lawyer in Boise, says he looks forward to persuading a judge "the governor doesn't know the different between real science and cowboy science."