Northern wild monkshood is a federally threatened plant listed in 1978 and found in three disjunct populations: one bordering southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa, a second in northeast Ohio, and a third residing in the Catskill Mountains of New York. A member of the buttercup family, the species can be found on shaded to partially shaded cliffs, algific talus slopes, or on cool, streamside sites.

Threats to northern monkshood are predominately related to habitat loss or degradation. Possible threats include: contamination and filling of sinkholes, grazing and trampling by livestock and deer, human foot traffic, logging, maintenance of highways and powerlines, misapplication of pesticides, quarrying and road building. Other threats include climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Learn more about climate change , and some populations are threatened by collection.

What is being done to prevent extinction of the northern monkshood?

• Recovery plan - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed a recovery plan in 1983 that describes actions needed to help the plant survive and recover.

• Research - Many northern monkshood populations are being monitored to determine long-term population trends. Genetic studies are being conducted so population differences can be better understood.

• Habitat protection - A variety of government and private conservation agencies are all working to preserve the northern monkshood and its habitat. Voluntary protection agreements have also been made with some private landowners.