Ohio birders:

Most members of this listserv will be interested in seeing the changes
to the state's lists of endangered species.  A fair number of bird
species have seen a change in status, with most being downgraded to
lower threat categories.

Andy
-- 
Andy Jones, Ph.D.
Director of Science
William A. and Nancy R. Klamm Endowed Chair of Ornithology
and Head of Department of Ornithology
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle
Cleveland, OH 44106
http://www.cmnh.org/Ornithology.aspx
Photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ornitholoco



-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Update Made to Ohio's Endangered Species List
Date:   Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:11:11 -0400
From:   Wecker, Kendra <[log in to unmask]>
To:     undisclosed-recipients:;



For Immediate Release

Aug. 13, 2012

*Update Made to Ohio’s Endangered Species List *

/Bobcat was first listed as endangered on the 1974 list, downlisted to
threatened in 2012/

*COLUMBUS, OH –* Every five years a status assessment of Ohio’s fish and
wildlife species is conducted. Several species have been taken off
Ohio’s Endangered Species List while others have been added, according
to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Five species were downlisted from endangered to threatened and include
the bobcat, Lake Erie watersnake, trumpeter swan, blue sucker and the
mountain madtom. The yellow-bellied sapsucker was downlisted from
endangered to species of concern.

Those species going from threatened to special interest were dark-eyed
junco, yellow-crowned night-heron, hermit thrush and least flycatcher.

Osprey, bald eagle, bluebreast darter and rosyside dace were taken off
the threatened list and will no longer receive a designation. All of
these species have experienced tremendous range expansion due to
improved habitat or water quality.

Other species that will no longer receive a designation are the blue
grosbeak, little blue heron, American widgeon, rock pocketbook, flat
floater and fat pocketbook.

Those species added to Ohio’s endangered species list were upland
sandpiper, Iowa darter and gilt darter. The Eastern harvest mouse was
added to the threatened list.

Species going from no designation to species of concern include smoky
shrew, deer mouse, prairie vole, woodland vole, southern bog lemming,
silver-haired bat, red bat and hoary bat. The evening bat, American
black duck and variegated orange moth will now be listed as a species of
special interest.

Listed as extinct are Kramer’s cave beetle and the tubercled blossom
mussel, which have not been found globally in more than 100 years.
Extirpated from Ohio are the spoonhead sculpin, blackchin shiner,
blacknose shiner and Mississippi silvery minnow, which have not been
found in the state for 25 years. One mammal, the Southern red-backed
vole, has been listed as extirpated.

The Division of Wildlife has legal authority over Ohio's fish and
wildlife, which includes about 56 species of mammals, 200 species of
breeding birds, 84 species and subspecies of amphibians and reptiles,
170 species of fish, 100 species of mollusks and 20 species of
crustaceans. In addition, there are thousands of species of insects and
other invertebrates which fall under the Division of Wildlife's
jurisdiction.

The first list of Ohio’s endangered wildlife was adopted in 1974 and
included 71 species. An extensive examination of the list is conducted
every five years. Input is sought from professional Division of Wildlife
staff and other wildlife experts across Ohio.

No state tax dollars are used to support this program. Monitoring and
recovery efforts are supported by the Wildlife Diversity and Endangered
Species Fund, which receives donations from Ohioans through the state
income tax check-off program and by the purchase of cardinal license
plates. Individuals wanting to donate to the fund can also donate online
at www.wildohio.com <http://www.wildohio.com>.

The new Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp provides an additional funding
opportunity to support conservation, especially among wildlife watchers,
photographers, campers, hikers and others who support wildlife causes.
The $15 collectible Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp is available annually and
highlights a different wildlife species each year chosen through a photo
competition.

Federal funds for endangered species and wildlife diversity efforts are
also provided through the State Wildlife Grant Program, which targets
species with greatest conservation need. The Lake Erie watersnake
recovery efforts are an excellent example of federal, state and local
partnership resulting in species resurgence.//

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural
resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at
www.ohiodnr.com <http://www.ohiodnr.com>.

*-30-*

**

**

**

*/For more information, contact:/*

Kendra Wecker, ODNR Division of Wildlife

614-265-7043

Bethany McCorkle, ODNR Office of Communications

614-265-6873

*Editor’s Note:* The six categories used for designation to further
define the status of selected wildlife are: endangered, threatened,
species of concern, special interest, extirpated and extinct. These
categories and the species contained within them are revised as
knowledge of the status of Ohio’s wildlife evolves.

*Endangered*

A native species or subspecies threatened with extirpation from the
state. The danger may result from one or more causes, such as habitat
loss, pollution, predation, interspecific competition or disease.

*Threatened*

A species or subspecies whose survival in Ohio is not in immediate
jeopardy, but to which a threat exists. Continued or increased stress
will result in its becoming endangered.**

*Species of Concern*

A species or subspecies which might become threatened in Ohio under
continued or increased stress. Also, a species or subspecies for which
there is some concern, but for which information is insufficient to
permit an adequate status evaluation. This category may contain species
designated as a furbearer or game species, but whose statewide
population is dependent on the quality and/or quantity of habitat and is
not adversely impacted by regulated harvest.

*Special Interest*

A species that occurs periodically and is capable of breeding in Ohio.
It is at the edge of a larger, contiguous range with viable populations
within the core of its range. These species have no federal endangered
or threatened status, are at low breeding densities in the state and
have not been recently released to enhance Ohio’s wildlife diversity.
With the exception of efforts to conserve occupied areas, minimal
management efforts will be directed for these species because it is
unlikely to result in significant increases in their populations within
the state.

*Extirpated*

A species or subspecies that occurred in Ohio at the time of European
settlement and that has since disappeared from the state.

*Extinct *

A species or subspecies that occurred in Ohio at the time of European
settlement and that has since disappeared from its entire range.

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