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 Ohio's Rare Plants
Ohio's Listed Wildlife
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Listed Species Definitions
Ohio Biodiversity Articles
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About OBS
OBS Members Publications What's New Survey Projects Biodiversity in Ohio Academic Biologists Links |
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Ohio's Listed Species Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife The Division of Wildlife's mission is to conserve and improve the fish and wildlife resources and their habitats, and promote their use and appreciation by the public so that these resources continue to enhance the quality of life for all Ohioans. The Division has legal authority over Ohio's fish and wildlife, which includes about 56 species of mammals, 348 species of birds, 84 species and subspecies of amphibians and reptiles, 166 species of fish, and 79 species of mollusks. In addition, there are thousands of species of insects and other invertebrates which fall under the Division's jurisdiction. Furthermore, Ohio law grants authority to the chief of the Division to adopt rules restricting the taking or possession of native wildlife threatened with statewide extirpation and to develop and periodically update a list of endangered species (Ohio Revised Code1531.25). The first list of Ohio's endangered species was adopted in 1974 and included 71 species. In 1990, 108 species were listed, and included for the first time werebutterflies, moths, and beetles. In 1996, as part of our comprehensive management plan, the Division initiated a reevaluation of the endangered species list.An extensive examination of the list is conducted every five years. The following table contains information up-to-date as of September 1997. To create these lists, the Division seeks input from our staff along with other noted professional and amateur wildlife experts acrossOhio. The status of native wildlife species is very important to the Division. Although the listing process identifies individual wildlife species needing protection, it also serves as a powerful tool in the Division's planning process. It provides direction for the allocation of personnel time and funds in Division programs and projects. In addition to endangered, the Division uses four other categories, threatened, special interest,extirpated, and extinct, to define the status of selected wildlife further. Definitions of these categories, a summary of the numbers of species and subspecies in each category and the list of species and subspecies in each category follow: 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, ordisease. Threatened - A species or subspecies whose survival in Ohio is not in immediate jeopardy, but to which athreat exists. Continued or increased stress will result inits becoming endangered. Special Interest - 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 informationis insufficient to permit an adequate status evaluation. 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. top |