The species to which the Sand Mountain blue belongs, Euphilotes pallescens, has been officially classified as vulnerable, while the subspecies E. p. arenamontana itself has been labeled as critically imperiled, at great risk of extinction. In 2004 a petition was filed to investigate the status of the Sand Mountain blue and whether it should be placed on the endangered or threatened species lists. Currently Sand Mountain blues are referred to as rare because of their small geographical distribution around the Sand Mountain dune. In March 2007, several off-road vehicle trails were closed off in order to protect the subspecies and its host plant from intrusion.