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Wildlife in Danger of Extinction: Northwest Florida - Choctawhatchee Coastal Conservancy

Wildlife in Danger of Extinction: Northwest Florida 1

Joe Schaefer and Geof Gowan2

This publication is a brief overview of the habitats and counties where listed endangered, threatened, and special concern species have been found in northwest Florida, although these species also may occur in currently undocumented areas. Figure 1 shows the Northwest Florida counties and the number of endangered species within each. See the following tables:

Figure 1 .

Background

Many wildlife species in northwest Florida are headed toward extinction. By 1990, 48 species in this region had been officially listed as endangered, threatened or species of special concern by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Title 39- 27.003, 27.004, and 27.005, of the Florida Administrative Code) and/or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS, Part 17, Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations).
Endangered species are those in immediate danger of extinction unless they or their habitats are fully protected and managed. Threatened species are very likely to become endangered in the near future unless
they or their habitats are fully protected and managed. Species of special concern may become threatened unless protective management strategies are employed.
Since the early 1970s, these legal classifications have been used to help protect the species and their habitats in greatest jeopardy. It is unlawful to pursue, molest, harm, harass, capture or possess these species or parts thereof or their nests or eggs except as authorized by Commission or USFWS regulations or permits (Title 39-27.002, F.A.C. and Part 17, Title 50, C.F.R.). Designated critical wildlife areas that are crucial to the survival of listed species also are protected from human or vehicular disturbance (Title 39-19.05, F.A.C. and Part 17, Title 50, C.F.R.).
By far the most common cause of declines in wildlife numbers is habitat loss or alteration due to various human activities. Nearly half (44%) of all Florida vertebrates are known or suspected to be declining in number or distribution, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) study. Many species that have not gone through the formal listing process were determined by FWC to be in just as much jeopardy of extinction as those species already listed.
Extinction is a process that occurs over a long period. When an essential h'abitat component is diminished to a level insufficient for a species to survive there, tha-t species it becomes extinct in that area. Species first become extinct on individual sites, then extinction spreads to township, county, state, national, and global levels.

Tables

Table 1.

Table 1. Mammals
Common name (Scientific Name)StatusHabitatCounties
Bat, Gray
(Myotis grisescens)
E (1,2) CavesJackson
Bat, Indiana
(Myotis sodalis)
E (1,2)CavesJackson
Bear, Florida Black
(Ursus americanus floridanus)
T (1)Hardwood swamps, dense thickets, various communitiesBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Chipmunk, Eastern
(Tamias striatus)
SSC (1)Mixed hardwoodsEscambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton
Manatee, West Indian
(Trichechus manatus latirostris)
E (1, 2)Marine and fresh waterBay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton
Mouse, Choctawhatchee, Beach
(Peromyscus polionotus allophrys)
T (1)E (2)Coastal strandBay, Walton
Mouse, Florida
(Podomys floridanus)
SSC (1)Scrub, sandhill communitiesFranklin
Mouse, Perdido Key beach
(Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)
E (1, 2)Coastal strandEscambia
Mouse, St. Andrews beach
(Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis)
E (1)Coastal strandGulf
Status code key: E = Endangered Species; T = Threatened Species; 1 = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2 = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; SSC = Species of Special Concern; C1 = A candidate for federal listing, with enough information on biological vulnerability and threat to support proposals for listing; C2 = A candidate for listing, with some evidence of vulnerability, but for which insufficient data exist to support listing; C3 = Still formally under review by the USFWS for federal listing, but no longer considered for listing because recent information indicates species is more widespread or abundant than previously believed.

Table 2.

Table 2. Birds (*Does not breed in Florida)
Common name
(Scientific name)

StatusHabitatCounties
Eagle, Bald
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
T (1)E (2)

Pine flatwoods, sandhills, hardwood swamps, open water/upland interfacesBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Egret, Reddish
(Egretta rufescens)
SSC (1)Coastal marshes, mud flatsBay, Franklin, Gulf, Wakulla
Egret, Snowy
(Egretta thula)
SSC (1)Shallow and open water, wet prairies, sand, mud flatsBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Falcon, Peregrine*
(Falco peregrinus)
E (1)T (2)

Coastal strand, marshes, fields Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Wakulla
Heron, Little Blue
(Egretta caerulea)
SSC (1)Marshes, sand, wet prairies, shallow and open water, mud flatsBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Heron, Tricolored
(Egretta tricolor)
SSC (1)Salt and freshwater marshesBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Ibis, White
(Eudocimus albus)
SSC (1)Ocean beaches, bays, estuaries, freshwater marshes, lakes, ponds, rockpits, mines, impoundments, rivers, canals, and swampsBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Kestrel, Southeastern American
(Falco sparverius paulus)
T (1)Dry prairies, old fields, pine flatwoods, sandhillsBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Limpkin
(Aramus guarauna)
SSC (1)Swamps, marshesBay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty
Oystercatcher, American
(Haematopus palliatus)
SSC (1)Mud flatsBay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton
Pelican, Brown
(Pelecanus occidentalis)
SSC (1)Marine WaterBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Plover, Piping*
(Charadrius melodus)
T (1, 2)Sand, mud flatsBay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton
Plover, Southeastern Snowy
(Charadrius alexandrinus tenuirostris)
T (1)Sand, mud flatsBay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton
Sparrow, Wakulla Seaside
(Ammodramus maritimus juncicolus)
SSC (1)Coastal marshesJefferson, Wakulla
Skimmer, Black
(Rynchops niger)
SSC (1)Ocean beaches, bays, estuaries, lakes, ponds, rockpits, mines, impoundments, rivers, canals, and townsBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Stork, Wood
(Mycteria americana)
E (1, 2)Various swamp and marsh communitiesGadsden, Liberty, Wakulla
Tern, Least
(Sterna antillarum)
T (1)Marine water, sand, roof topsBay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton
Wren, Marian's marsh
(Cistothorus palustris marianae)
SSC (1)Coastal marshesBay, Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, Wakulla
Status code key: E = Endangered Species; T = Threatened Species; 1 = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2 = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; SSC = Species of Special Concern; C1 = A candidate for federal listing, with enough information on biological vulnerability and threat to support proposals for listing; C2 = A candidate for listing, with some evidence of vulnerability, but for which insufficient data exist to support listing; C3 = Still formally under review by the USFWS for federal listing, but no longer considered for listing because recent information indicates species is more widespread or abundant than previously believed.

Table 3.

Table 3. Reptiles
Common Name (Scientific Name)StatusHabitatCounties
Alligator, American
(Alligator mississippiensis)
SSC (1)T (2)Swamps, lakes, rivers, marshesBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Cooter, Suwannee
(Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis)
SSC (1)Ponds and lakes, streams and rivers, nests in sandy uplandsCalhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla
Snake, Eastern Indigo
(Drymarchon corais couperi)
T (1, 2)Various upland and wetland communitiesBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Snake, Florida Pine
(Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus)
SSC (1)Scrub, sandhills, flatwoodsBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Tortoise, Gopher
(Gopher polyphemus)
SSC (1)Scrub, sandhills, coastal strand, flatwoodsBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Turtle, Alligator Snapping
(Macroclemys temmincki)
SSC (1)Freshwater marshes, lakes, riversBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Turtle, Atlantic Green
(Chelonia mydas mydas)
E (1, 2)Marine waterOkaloosa
Turtle, Atlantic Ridley
(Lepidochelys kempi)
E (1, 2)Marine water Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton
Turtle, Atlantic Loggerhead
(Caretta caretta caretta)
T (1, 2)Marine water, coastal strandBay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton
Turtle, Barbour's Map
(Graptemys barbouri)
SSC (1)Hardwood swamps, streams, riversCalhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Liberty
Status code key: E = Endangered Species; T = Threatened Species; 1 = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2 = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; SSC = Species of Special Concern; C1 = A candidate for federal listing, with enough information on biological vulnerability and threat to support proposals for listing; C2 = A candidate for listing, with some evidence of vulnerability, but for which insufficient data exist to support listing; C3 = Still formally under review by the USFWS for federal listing, but no longer considered for listing because recent information indicates species is more widespread or abundant than previously believed.

Table 4.

Table 4. Amphibians
Common name (Scientific name)StatusHabitatCounties
Frog, Bog
(Rana okaloosae)
SSC (1)Wet prairies and bogs, streams, riversOkaloosa, Santa Rosa
Frog, Dusky Gopher
(Rana capito sevosa)
SSC (1)Sandhills, pine flatwoods, ephemeral pondsBay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Frog, Florida Gopher
(Rana capito aesopus)
SSC (1)Sandhills, pine flatwoods, ephemeral ponds Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
Salamander, Georgia Blind
(Haideotriton wallacei)
SSC (1)CavesJackson
Treefrog, Pine Barrens
(Hyla andersonii)
SSC (1)hardwood swamps, wet prairies and bogsFranklin, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton
Status code key: E = Endangered Species; T = Threatened Species; 1 = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2 = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; SSC = Species of Special Concern; C1 = A candidate for federal listing, with enough information on biological vulnerability and threat to support proposals for listing; C2 = A candidate for listing, with some evidence of vulnerability, but for which insufficient data exist to support listing; C3 = Still formally under review by the USFWS for federal listing, but no longer considered for listing because recent information indicates species is more widespread or abundant than previously believed.

Table 5.

Table 5. Fishes
Common name (Scientific name)StatusHabitatCounties
Bass, Shoal
(Micropterus sp.)
SSC (1)Streams, riversFranklin, Gadsden, Jackson, Liberty
Bass, Suwannee
(Micropterus notius)
SSC (1)Streams, riversFranklin, Gadsden, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla
Darter, Crystal
(Ammocrypta asprella)
T (1)Streams, riversEscambia, Santa Rosa
Darter, Harlequin
(Etheostoma histrio)
SSC (1)Streams, riversCalhoun, Santa Rosa
Darter, Okaloosa
(Etheostoma okaloosae)
E (1, 2)Streams, riversOkaloosa, Walton
Shiner, Blackmouth
(Notropis melanostomus)
E (1)Shallow, backwater pools with no flow Santa Rosa, Walton
Shiner, Bluestripe
(Notropis callitaenia)
SSC (1)Streams, riversCalhoun, Gadsden, Jackson, Liberty
Shiner, Bluenose
(Pteronotropis welaka)
SSC (1)Deep pools and holes of streams Gulf, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Washington
Sturgeon, Atlantic
(Acipenser oxyrhynchus)
SSC (1)Marine water, streams, rivers Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Liberty, Walton, Washington
Topminnow, Saltmarsh
(Fundulus jenkinsi)
SSC (1)Marine water, coastal marshes Escambia, Santa Rosa
Status code key: E = Endangered Species; T = Threatened Species; 1 = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 2 = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; SSC = Species of Special Concern; C1 = A candidate for federal listing, with enough information on biological vulnerability and threat to support proposals for listing; C2 = A candidate for listing, with some evidence of vulnerability, but for which insufficient data exist to support listing; C3 = Still formally under review by the USFWS for federal listing, but no longer considered for listing because recent information indicates species is more widespread or abundant than previously believed.

Footnotes

1. This document is SS-WEC-19, one of a series of the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Publication date: April 1991 as "Northwest Florida Wildlife in Danger of Extinction". Revised: February 1997; 1998. Minor Revisions: July, 2001. Please visit the Edis Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Joe Schaefer , Ph.D., former extension wildlife specialist; Geof Gowan, former wildlife extension assistant, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611-0430.