Nature

Assisting the Endangered

A variety of organizations and nonpro ts collaborate to keep the state’s at-risk species safe.

In the state of Oklahoma, there are currently 42 species that are either federally or state listed under the Endangered Species Act. is record includes species proposed for listing, as well as species that have been eradicated (extirpated) in Oklahoma. e gray bat, Indiana bat, Ozark big-eared bat, Neosho mucket, scaleshell, winged mapleleaf, Quachita Rock pocketbook, red-cockaded endangered freshwater mussel that once could be found in over 13 states including Oklahoma. Today, it is only found in limited areas of only ve known rivers. Pollution and environmental degradation have greatly compromised their habitat and the introduction of invasive species such as zebra mussels has diminished their numbers. e whooping crane has been

Two whooping cranes are seen here in flight with two sandhill cranes. Whooping cranes, on the endangered species list, visit Oklahoma annually during their migratory trek. Photo by Mike Endres woodpecker and the whooping crane are on the federally endangered list, and the Oklahoma state list includes the longnose darter and the Oklahoma cave cray sh. An additional thirteen Oklahoma species are considered “threatened” at either the state or federal level, which means they will likely become endangered without mitigation. (Endangered species are species that are in danger of imminent extinction.)

About the Species

e Oklahoma cave cray sh is one of the most critically endangered species in the state. It can currently only be found in three cave systems in Oklahoma and is entirely extinct outside of the state. e primary threat to the animal is water pollution via contaminants in groundwater. Sealing caves and over-collection from the wild also pose a serious threat to their existence. e winged maple leaf is an on the federally endangered list since 1967. During their migratory trek, whooping cranes visit western Oklahoma at Four Canyon Preserve as well as Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. At their most dangerous population level during WWII, there were as few as 16 cranes in existence, but conservation e orts have returned them to just over 500, which is halfway to the target population of 1,000.

The Importance of Habitat

Many Oklahoma species have a biological tendency for narrow habitat requirements. Minor changes in a habitat can have farreaching implications for species that dwell, hunt, mate or forage there. e Ozark bat, for example, prefers mature pine woodlands, which are depleted for commercial uses. Aquatic species like the leopard darter are also negatively impacted by the creation of reservoirs, which can fragment the population into smaller groups, putting them at risk for depletion.

Who’s Helping?

e Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Oklahoma Ecological Services Field O ce. Other not-for-pro t organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, NatureServe and OU’s Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory also work to restore habitats and help at-risk species to thrive. rough their e orts, formerly endangered animals like the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, black-capped vireo, least tern and American alligator have been removed from the endangered list. Oklahoma currently ranks 13th out of 50 in mammal and freshwater sh diversity and 9th in bird and reptile biodiversity. Oklahomans who are concerned with the depletion of our wildlife should start in their own backyards by planting native plant species that are a haven for critical pollinators like monarch butter ies, honey bees and hummingbirds.

Another way to get involved is through the ODWC’s Wildlife Diversity Program, by becoming a Citizen Scientist, or by participating in one of eight annual Selman Bat Cave watching events. Citizens can subscribe to ODWC’s monthly e-newsletter and can support wildlife by purchasing a Wildlife Conservation license plate, or by making a tax-deductible donation to ODWC or to the Nature Conservancy.

“One of the struggles we face is seeking more wide-reaching solutions that can bene t multiple species,” says Mark Howery, a wildlife diversity biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “Due to the uniqueness of each species and their corresponding habitats, the solutions are usually very speci c. Every Oklahoma habitat needs protection, as they are all essential for one or more species.” JEFF THOMPSON