Florida's burrowing owls are listed as a species of special concern by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. There are three levels of protection: species of special concern, threatened and endangered. Species of special concern are those facing a moderate risk of extinction in the future. A threatened species is one facing a very high risk of extinction in the future. Endangered species are in imminent danger of extinction due to man-made or natural factors.

A28: The five-year review identifies threats of potential habitat loss and watercraft collisions and our concerns regarding the adequacy of regulatory mechanisms associated with those threats as the primary reasons the species should be listed as threatened. Our specific recommendations include several actions that are needed in order to address these threats and concerns.

The following articles will soon be published on this site. If you would like any of them now then email us. Feel free to request these articles for private or student use, with acknowledgment.

Because there is no such Owl. The Tawny Frogmouth is a bird that is often confused with an Owl. Here is a link for more information about the so-called Tawny Frogmouth Owl.

Gopher tortoises have received protected status (click here for details). As such, the gopher tortoise may not be handled without a permit. Any tortoise problems or violations can be referred to the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, or FWCC, for resolution. The presence of keystone protected species like the gopher tortoise places certain requirements on anyone considering land use change.

A7: The ESA defines "endangered" as "...in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range..." whereas "threatened" is defined as "...is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range..

Mountain lions are not threatened nor endangered in California. In fact, the lion population is relatively high in California and their numbers appear to be stable. Mountain lions are legally classified as "specially protected species". This has nothing to do with their relative abundance and does not imply that they are rare.

This is an issue of great concern, as these populations are already struggling to survive in the current environment. If some of these species are more vulnerable to fatal WNV infection, WNV may ultimately lead to their extinction or significantly set back the progress of the recovery programs. Based on safety reports available from the EPA, many of the pesticides being used by local agencies for mosquito control are considered to have very low toxicity to birds.

Contact your local office of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). You can also visit the US Fish & Wildlife's web site to learn more about endangered species. The FWC's Bureau of Protected Species Management web page offers information about efforts to protect Florida's marine turtles, manatees and whales.

The Endangered Species Act, or ESA, is legislation passed into law by the United States Congress in 1973. By enacting this legislation, Congress recognized and set out to halt the loss of plants and animals that make up a vital part of our nation’s rich natural heritage. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the federal agency charged with administering and enforcing the terms of the ESA.

A good place to start is a document available from Travis County entitled “Guidance Concerning Endangered Species” which may be downloaded here, or obtained from Travis County’s Natural Resources Program located on the 3rd floor at 1010 Lavaca in downtown Austin, or at the Travis County Development Permits Office on the 8th floor of the Travis County Executive Office Building, located at 411 West 13th Street in downtown Austin.

The ESA was passed by Congress in 1973 to "conserve the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend, and to conserve and recover listed species." Endangered species are in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges. Threatened species are considered likely to become endangered in the near future (see http://endangered.fws.gov/ for more information.) The Georgia General Assembly has also passed a law protecting species of concern.

To answer that you have to think about what endangered means. Is it the frog species with the smallest number of individuals? Or is it the frog species in which the number of individuals is being reduced the most quickly? Either way you ask the question, for most species we don't have the numbers to actually say which is the most endangered.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 provides an important tool for conservation of endangered and threatened species. Federally endangered species are so rare they are in danger of becoming extinct. Unfortunately, extinction is forever and once gone, a species can never return to our web of life. Threatened species are more abundant at this time but may become endangered in the future.

Many of the animals on display were collected as long as 40-years ago. Usually they were common species in their part of the world. Years later, habitat destruction or sometimes illegal poaching led to their endangerment. Now these animals serve education and can foster concern to protect wildlife. Many collections in natural history museums contain hundreds of specimens gathered over the years.

There may be. It is illegal to harm or harass an endangered species. Harm includes destroying or modifying habitat fo the species. Continuing your normal activities is no problem. If you are planning construction work or other major changes, it is best to check with our office before proceeding. You will need a special permit from FWS and/or the state if your work will harm a federal- or state-protected species.

Information can also be obtained by contacting our office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection .