(WWJ) – Nearly 60 new species have been added to the list of threatened and endangered species in Michigan, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced Monday.
The addition of 58 species – and the removal of 36 – brings the state’s list to 407 after experts from universities, the DNR, the Michigan Natural Features Inventory and other conservation organizations recommended changes to the list based on recent data.
It was the seventh update to Michigan’s list of threatened and endangered species in nearly 50 years.
DNR endangered species specialist Jennifer Kleitch said the collaborative effort on conservation can help recover rare species.
“For instance, trumpeter swans were just removed from Michigan’s threatened and endangered species list. Their populations have grown as a result of significant conservation efforts by many partners over decades,” Kleitch said, per a press release.
Though the trumpeter swan has been removed from Michigan’s list of threatened and endangered species, it is still federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
While 36 species were removed from the list, Kleitch says there are plenty of others that still need help.
Among the animals newly identified as threatened are three different species of bats – little brown, northern long-eared and tri-colored. DNR officials say they’ve seen “significant population declines in the state resulting from white-nose syndrome.”
Rusty-patched bumblebees and American bumblebees, meanwhile, were added to the endangered species list because, “like many pollinator species, their populations are seeing large declines,” according to the DNR.
A full list of threatened and endangered species in Michigan can be found on the MSU Extension website.
DNR officials say Michiganders can help by learning more about rare plants and animals and their conservation needs, by visiting this website, which also provides additional information on what each species needs to survive and thrive.
“Many threatened and endangered species rely on high-quality natural areas that benefit all of us by providing clean water, clean air and places for us to enjoy nature. When species are struggling, it can indicate declines in the functioning of those natural areas, which in turn can impact our quality of life,” Kleitch said.
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