Listing Actions
Listing Actions and Species Evaluation Requests
The Commission updated the management system for conserving threatened species in September 2010. The system includes a process for accepting listing action requests from the public for species that may be at risk of extinction.
People requesting the Commission list or remove a species from the state-designated Threatened species list must follow the listing process. For questions specific to the listing process, or to any of the listing actions below, please contact Imperiled@myfwc.com
Below are species for which the FWC has received petitions since 1999. Please click the links below to find out more regarding the current status of each.
Active Listing Actions
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the Okaloosa darter from the federal Endangered and Threatened Species list in 2023. Rule 68A-27.0012, F.A.C., states that species removed from the federal Endangered and Threatened Species list shall receive a biological status review by a Biological Review Group. The next step is for staff to request approval to convene a Biological Review Group.
The FWC received a species evaluation request for the Wilson's Plover in 2023. The next step is for staff to create a workplan and conduct a biological vulnerability screening for the species.
The FWC received a species evaluation request for the alligator gar in 2022. Agency staff evaluated the request for completeness and conducted a biological vulnerability screening. In December 2023, the FWC Commissioners approved the convening of a Biological Review Group to review the species' status against state-listing criteria.
The FWC received a species evaluation request for the black-banded sunfish in 2022. Agency staff evaluated the request for completeness and conducted a biological vulnerability screening. In December 2023, the FWC Commissioners approved the convening of a Biological Review Group to review the species' status against state-listing criteria.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the Kirtland’s warbler from the federal Endangered and Threatened Species list in 2019. Rule 68A-27.0012, F.A.C., states that species removed from the federal Endangered and Threatened Species list shall receive a biological status review by a Biological Review Group. In November 2022, the FWC Commissioners approved the convening of a Biological Review Group to review the species' status against state-listing criteria. The findings of the Biological Review Group and staff recommendation will be presented at a future Commission Meeting.
The FWC received a species evaluation request for the Southern dusky salamander in 2022. Agency staff evaluated the request for completeness and conducted a biological vulnerability screening. In December 2023, the FWC Commissioners approved the convening of a Biological Review Group to review the species' status against state-listing criteria.
The FWC received a species evaluation request for the Florida reef gecko in 2021. Agency staff evaluated the request for completeness and conducted a biological vulnerability screening. In November 2022, the FWC Commissioners approved the convening of a Biological Review Group to review the species' status against state-listing criteria. The findings of the Biological Review Group and staff recommendation to list the Florida reef gecko as a state-Threatened species were presented at the May 2024 Commission Meeting, where Commissioners approved the staff recommendation. The Florida reef gecko is currently a candidate species under Rule 68A-27.0021 F.A.C. Staff are currently working to create Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines and an accompanying Species Action Plan to be presented at a future Commission meeting.
Completed Listing Actions
Current status is State-designated Threatened.
The FWC received a species evaluation request for the striped newt in 2019. Agency staff evaluated the request for completeness and conducted a biological vulnerability screening. In October 2019, the FWC Commissioners approved the convening of a Biological Review Group to review the species' status against state-listing criteria. The findings of the Biological Review Group and staff recommendation to list the striped newt as a state-Threatened species were presented at the May 2021 Commission Meeting, where Commissioners approved the staff recommendation. Commissioners approved a management plan for the species at the November 2022 Commission Meeting, and the striped newt was reclassified as State-designated Threatened.
Biological Status Review Report
Current status is non-listed
The FWC received a species evaluation request for the American flamingo in 2018. Agency staff evaluated the request for completeness and conducted a biological vulnerability screening. In October 2019, FWC Commissioners approved the convening of a Biological Review Group to review the species' status against state-listing criteria. The findings of the Biological Review Group and staff recommendation to not list the American flamingo as a state-Threatened species was presented at the May 2021 Commission Meeting, where Commissioners approved the staff recommendation.
Current status is delisted.
The Southern Fox Squirrel was previously classified as Sherman's Fox Squirrel.
This species is included in Florida's Imperiled Species Management Plan, which guides conservation for Florida's state-listed and recently delisted fish and wildlife.
Southern Fox Squirrel Species Profile
Current status is delisted.
This species is included in Florida's Imperiled Species Management Plan, which guides conservation for Florida's state-listed and recently delisted fish and wildlife.
The current status is delisted.
This species is included in Florida's Imperiled Species Management Plan, which guides conservation for Florida's state-listed and recently delisted fish and wildlife.
Current status is delisted.
This species is included in Florida's Imperiled Species Management Plan, which guides conservation for Florida's state-listed and recently delisted fish and wildlife.
Current status is Federally Endangered.
The FWC received a request to evaluate the Miami tiger beetle in 2015. The FWC convened a Biological Review Group to further evaluate whether or not the species met criteria to warrant state-Threatened status. During this time, the species was also being reviewed for listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the Miami tiger beetle should receive endangered species status under the Act, and this protection became effective November 4th, 2016.
Petition Status - Complete. Does not warrant listing
The FWC received a petition to add the Smooth-billed ani to the list of Endangered, Threatened and Species of Special Concern in 2005. Following the guidance of rule 68A-27.0012, this petition was reviewed for completeness in the summer of 2005. The original petition was returned to the petitioner with deficiencies clearly indicated. A revised petition was submitted, and found to be complete. All complete petitions and ongoing listing actions were discussed and prioritized for action at the February 2007 Commission meeting. The work plan for 2007-08 presented to Commission recommended deferring action on the ani petition until the Commission takes final action on the peregrine falcon petition. The Commission approved recommendation. In December 2007, the Commission directed staff to review the listing process and for all petitions (other than the bald eagle and peregrine falcon) to be worked on after the review was complete. In September 2010, the Commission approved revised listing rules which included a moratorium for two years after the effective date of the rule on new requests for listing or delisting. The revised listing rules became effective in November 2010. The Smooth-billed ani petition remained active but was on hold until the two year moratorium was lifted.
In 2016, staff reviewed the petition and conducted a biological vulnerability screening, per Rule 68A-27.0012, F.A.C. The biological vulnerability screening assigns a biological score for thebiological variables as described in Millsap, B.A., J.A. Gore, D.E. Runde, and S.I. Cerulean. 1990. Setting Priorities for the Conservation of Fish and Wildlife Species in Florida. Wildlife Monographs 111, and as subsequently modified. The biological score for the smooth billed ani is 14.7, well below the cutoff for further evaluation.
The smooth billed ani is at the edge of its range in Florida and has undergone expansion and subsequent contraction in the state over the past century. The species has a large global population (over 20 million) and an extensive global range; current research indicates that there is movement between the Cuban and south Florida populations. The full literature review is included below.
Regular prescribed burning maintains gopher tortoise habitat.
Current status is State-designated Threatened in the state of Florida.
The FWC received a petition to re-evaluate the status of the gopher tortoise in 2002. A team of scientists completed the biological status review in 2006 after a new listing process was implemented. In 2006, FWC Commissioners agreed that reclassification of the gopher tortoise from Species of Special Concern to Threatened was warranted, and directed staff to work with stakeholders in creating a new management plan for the gopher tortoise. The drafting process included extensive public involvement as stakeholders worked with FWC staff to finalize the gopher tortoise management plan. The plan was approved by the Commission at the September 2007 Commission meeting in St. Petersburg, and the gopher tortoise was reclassified as Threatened.
In 2010, the Commission approved new rules for listing imperiled species and the gopher tortoise was listed as State-designated Threatened in Florida.
The gopher tortoise management plan is available for download on the Gopher Tortoise Website.
More information on our Listing Process and biological status reviews for other species is available on our website. Below are links to the original petition of 2002 and the Gopher Tortoise Biological Status Report.
Management Plan (Revised 2012)
The current status is State-designated Threatened.
The FWC received an emergency petition to add the Miami blue butterfly to the list of imperiled species in 2002. The butterfly was evaluated according to the listing process rules and it was determined the species warranted listing as Endangered.
The butterfly was emergency-listed in 2002, affording it the protections provided under the Endangered Species rule. Final action was taken in 2003, with the Miami blue butterfly added to the list of imperiled species as Endangered.
In 2002 the butterfly, which once ranged from Hillsborough County on the west coast down to the Keys and up to Volusia County on the east coast, was known to occur only at Bahia Honda State Park in the Keys. In 2006 biologists discovered a second population in Key West National Wildlife Refuge.
The McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the University of Florida, with funding from the FWC and other sources, has been successful in breeding the Miami blue in captivity. Releases of captive-bred butterflies into the wild have not fared well thus far, but expanded research is underway to learn how to do successful reintroductions.
The revised Miami Blue Management Plan was approved by the Commission at the June 2010 Commission Meeting held in Lake Mary, Florida. The agenda for the meeting, to which the public was invited, can be found online. The agenda provides specific links to the supporting documents for each agenda topic.
After the Commission adopted new rules for listing imperiled species in September 2010, the Miami blue butterfly became State-designated Threatened.
Current status is delisted
The FWC received a petition to re-evaluate the status of the bald eagle in 2002. A biological assessment following the listing process rules was initiated. However, a listing moratorium was initiated in 2003 and the listing process rules were changed in April 2005. Following the new process, a biological status report was completed, reviewed by independent peer reviewers, and presented to the Commission at the June 2006 Commission meeting. The Commission agreed that delisting the bald eagle from its current status as a Threatened species was warranted.
Public comment was sought and incorporated on a draft and again on a revised draft management plan. The revised draft plan was given conceptual approval by the Commission at its Sept. 12, 2007 meeting. The final bald eagle management plan was approved by the Commission at the April 2008 meeting in Tallahassee. The de-listing was effective 30 days after the Commission meeting. Links to the biological status report and the final management plan are below.
Current Status is Federally Endangered.
The FWC received a petition to re-evaluate the Red-cockaded Woodpecker in 2001. The woodpecker was evaluated according to the listing process rules and it was determined that the status change from a Threatened species to one of Special Concern was warranted. In 2003, FWC reclassified the RCW as a "species of special concern," meaning it still is at high risk of extinction. In 2010, the Commission approved new rules for listing imperiled species and the RCW was listed as Federally endangered in Florida. Below are links to the species profile, the final biological status report, and a copy of the approved management plan.
Current status is Federally Threatened.
The FWC received two petitions to re-evaluate the status of the Panama City crayfish in 2001 and 2003, respectively. In fulfillment of the 2001 petition, staff initiated a biological assessment following the listing process rules. However, a listing moratorium was initiated in 2003 and the listing process rules were changed in April 2005. Following the new process, staff completed a biological status report, reviewed by independent peer reviewers, and staff presented the report to the Commission at the June 2006 Commission meeting. The Commission agreed that reclassification of the Panama City crayfish from Species of Special Concern to Threatened was warranted, but reclassification would not occur until a management plan for the species was approved. Staff sought public comment and incorporated in a revised draft management plan. This draft plan, dated May 2007, was scheduled to be finalized and presented for approval at the February 2008 Commission meeting held in Panama City. However, at the December 2007 Commission meeting, FWC staff were directed to revise the listing process and halt current listing actions, including finalization of the draft revised Panama City crayfish management plan. In 2010, the Commission approved new rules for listing imperiled species and the Panama City crayfish remained listed as a Species of Special Concern in Florida. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received a petition to list the Panama City crayfish in 2010 and determined that the species warranted listing as Threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in January 2022. The Commission approved adding the species as Federally-designated Threatened to Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species List in November 2022.
Current status is Federally endangered (Reticulated flatwoods salamander) or Federally threatened (Frosted flatwoods salamander)
The FWC received a petition to add the flatwoods salamander to the list of Endangered, Threatened, and Species of Special Concern in 1999. The salamander was evaluated according to the listing process rules and it was determined addition to the Species of Special Concern List was warranted. Final action was taken in 2001 and the Flatwoods salamander was added to the Endangered, Threatened, and Species of Special Concern List as a Species of Special Concern. In 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially subdivided the flatwoods salamander into two species. Flatwoods salamanders in the population west of the Apalachicola River are now reticulated flatwoods salamanders (Federally endangered) and populations to the east are now frosted flatwoods salamanders (Federally threatened). After the Commission adopted new rules for listing imperiled species in September 2010, both flatwoods salamander species were listed in Florida by their Federal designation. Below are links to the petition that was received in 1999, the final biological status report, and a copy of the approved management plan.
Current status is delisted
The FWC received a petition to re-evaluate the status of the Peregrine Falcon in 1999. The Commission approved membership of the Peregrine Falcon Biological Review Panel (BRP) in June 2007. The BRP met in December 2007 to conduct the biological assessment of the peregrine by evaluating species-specific data against the listing criteria found in Rule 68A-1.004, F.A.C. A biological status report was completed, reviewed by independent peer reviewers, and presented to the Commission at the June 2008 meeting. The Commission agreed that removing the peregrine falcon from Florida's imperiled species list is warranted.
FWC staff drafted a management plan and solicited public comment. This public comment period closed on April 15, 2009. The initial public hearing on the draft plan was held at the Commission meeting in Tallahassee on April 15. At the meeting, the Commission discussed and approved the plan in concept. The final peregrine falcon management plan was approved by the Commission at the June 17, 2009 meeting in Crystal River. The de-listing was effective 30 days after the Commission meeting.
Below are links to the final management plan, the biological status report, and the FAQs.
Current status is delisted.
The FWC received a petition to reclassify the Common Snook in 1999. The snook was evaluated according to the listing process rules and it was determined removal from the Species of Special Concern List was warranted. Final action was taken in 2001 and the Common Snook was removed from the Endangered, Threatened, and Species of Special Concern List. Below are links to the petition that was received in 1999, the final biological status report, and a copy of the 2000 stock assessment that was used as the species-specific management plan.