Featured Species
Federally Endangered, Threatened, and Candidate Species, and Critical Habitats
TheEndangered Species Act (ESA)provides protection and conservation for endangered and threatened fish, wildlife, plants, and the habitats which they depend upon. In the tables below are the common and scientific names, statuses, and distributions of the federally endangered and threatened species, and federally designated critical habitats found in Nebraska. We also include candidate species. Candidate species receive no statutory protection under the ESA; however, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service encourage the formation of partnerships to conserve candidate species because they are, by definition, species that may warrant future protection under the ESA.
BIRDS
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Status | Distribution |
| Piping Plover | Charadrius melodus | Threatened | See species' page |
| Whooping Crane | Grus americana | Endangered with federally designated critical habitat | See species' page |
| Rufa Red Knot | Calidris canutus rufa | Threatened | See species' page |
| Eskimo Curlew** | Numenius borealis | Endangered | See species' page |
| Eastern Black Rail | Laterallus jameicensis jameicensis | Threatened with a 4(d) Rule | See species' page |
** The eskimo curlew remains federally protected wherever found. Although this species has never been officially designated as extinct, conservation biologists believe this species is extinct (Silcock and Jorgensen 2020).
INVERTEBRATES
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Status | Distribution |
| American Burying Beetle | Nicrophorus americanus | Threatened with a 4(d) Rule | See species' page |
| Salt Creek Tiger Beetle | Cicindela nevadica lincolniana | Endangered with federally designated critical habitat | See species' page |
| Scaleshell Mussel** | Leptodea leptodon | Endangered | See species' page |
| Higgins’ Eye Pearly Mussel** | Lampsilis higginsii | Endangered | See species' page |
| Monarch Butterfly | Danaus plexippus | Candidate | See species' page |
** For the endangered mussel species, only the shells of these species have been found. No populations currently exist in Nebraska. This species is thought to be extirpated, although, it remains protected wherever it is found.
FISH
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Status | Distribution |
| Topeka Shiner | Notropis topeka | Endangered with federally designated critical habitat | See species' page |
| Pallid Sturgeon | Scaphirhynchus albus | Endangered | See species' page |
PLANTS
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Status | Distribution |
| Western Prairie Fringed Orchid | Plantanthera praeclara | Threatened | See species' page |
| Blowout Penstemon | Penstemon haydenii | Endangered | See species' page |
| Ute Ladies’ Tresses | Spiranthes diluvialis | Threatened | See species'' page |
MAMMALS
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Status | Distribution |
| Northern Long-eared Bat | Myotis septentrionalis | Threatened with a 4(d) Rule** | See species' page |
| Black-footed Ferret*** | Mustela nigripes | Endangered | See species' page |
** On November 30, 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule in the Federal Register to reclassify the northern long-eared bat as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. For the latest updates on the listing status, visit this species' page.
*** There are no populations of black-footed ferrets in Nebraska. Although, this species remains protected wherever found. To learn about the black-footed ferret recovery program, click here.
Federally listed species are also state-listed under the Nebraska Nongame Endangered Species Conservation Act (or NESCA), which is administered by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
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Eagles and Other Migratory Birds
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Migratory Bird Program is the lead federal agency for conserving migratory birds, serving to protect, restore, and manage over one thousand different species ensuring these treasures will be around for future generations to admire and enjoy. Our office works with the Migratory Bird Program to carry out this mission, primarily by reviewing and providing recommendations to our partners and proponents to protect and conserve migratory birds and eagle species in Nebraska as well as provide assistance with project permitting.
Bald and Golden Eagles
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) provides protection for the bald eagle (Halieetus leucocephalus)and golden eagle (Aquila chrystaetos), both of which occur in Nebraska. The Eagle Act prohibits anyone from taking a bald or golden eagle or eagle parts (including nests [active and inactive], eggs, feathers, etc.) without a federal permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Take" under the Eagle Act is defined as "pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, molest or disturb. To "disturb" means: "to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause, based on the best scientific information available, 1) injury to an eagle, 2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or 3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior. To learn about the status and distribution of bald eagles across the state, please click here. To learn about the status and distribution of golden eagles, please click here.
To Avoid Disturbance to Eagles
To avoid disturbing eagles, we recommend implementing the conservation conditions in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines. We advise people to follow the recommendations in our National Eagle Management Guidelines (Guidelines) so that take does not happen. To read the Guidelines, click here. The conservation conditions start on Page 12 of the document. Please visit our office's Project Planning and Review Under the Endangered Species Act webpage, scroll down to Step 3: Consider Impacts to Other Federal Trust Resources, and read the hyperlinked list of resources under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act for additional resources.
Collecting and Shipping Eagles or Parts to the National Eagle Repository
Our agency's National Eagle Repository serves as the national collection and distribution center for deceased bald and golden eagles each year from local, state, and federal wildlife officials salvaged off of tribal lands, as well as permitted rehabilitation and zoological facilities. If you are not a wildlife official or permitted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to salvage eagles, please report a deceased eagle or eagle parts/feathers to the nearest wildlife official. Do not attempt to salvage an eagle carcass or any parts/feathers without prior coordination with the agency. We have guidelines to help you with proper documentation, safe handling, packaging and shipping procedures so that eagles arrive without damage and in the best possible condition. Visit the National Eagle Repository's website and scroll down to Guidelines for Shipping Eagles to the Repository.
Migratory Birds
The Migratory Birds Treaty Act (MBTA) provides protection for the migratory bird species listed in 50 CFR 10.13. The MBTA makes it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations. To learn about the status and distribution of a particular bird species in Nebraska, visit Birds of Nebraska - Online.
To Avoid Take of Migratory Birds
Please visit our office's Project Planning and Review Under the Endangered Species Act webpage, scroll down to Step 3: Consider Impacts to Other Federal Trust Resources, and read the hyperlinked list of resources under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
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Additional Species Information
To obtain a list of federally listed species and designated critical habitat(s), and migratory birds of conservation concern in particular area, please visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service'sInformation Planning and Consultation Tool.
For guidance on what to information to include in technical assistance and section 7 consultation requests, please contact our office by emailing nebraskaes@fws.gov.