The list of threatened fauna of Michigan includes almost 400 endangered, threatened and special concern species that are located in Michigan as a part of the fauna of the United States. Endangered and threatened species in Michigan are protected through the Endangered Species Act of the State of Michigan, part of the 1994 Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The list was last updated in 2009 to its sixth iteration. At this time, 69 new species were added, including many species of freshwater mussels and snails, and 13 species were removed. The state also recognizes species of special concern, which are not protected under the act. These species have low or declining numbers in the state or a need for additional information on their populations in Michigan. If the species' numbers decline, they are moved to threatened or endangered status and afforded protection under the act; if they increase, they are removed from the list without further action.
Threatened and endangered species can also be listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, passed in 1973; the act covers over 1,250 plant and animal species. Species can be on either list or both lists – representation on one does not automatically determine representation (or status) on the other.
A large portion of the field surveys and research conducted with regards to threatened and endangered species in Michigan is undertaken by the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) program. The MNFI program was originally developed in 1980 as part of the state natural heritage programs conceptualized by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), through which it received its first funding. The MNFI program severed relations with TNC in 2000, and became a program of the Michigan State University Extension Services.
Mammals There are twelve species of threatened mammals in Michigan. Five of these are listed as species of threatened concern, three as threatened and four as endangered. Two also have federal listed status as endangered or threatened.
Species Common nameState statusFederal status Alces alces Moose Special concern Canis lupus Gray wolf Special concern Cryptotis parva Least shrew Threatened Puma concolor Cougar Endangered Glaucomys sabrinus Northern flying squirrel Special concern Lynx canadensis Canada lynx Endangered Threatened Microtus ochrogaster Prairie vole Endangered Microtus pinetorum Woodland vole Special concern Myotis sodalis Indiana bat Endangered Endangered Nycticeius humeralis Evening bat Threatened Pipistrellus subflavus Eastern pipistrelle Special concern Sorex fumeus Smoky shrew Threatened
Amphibians
There are five species and subspecies of threatened amphibians in Michigan. Two of these are listed as species of special concern, one as a threatened species and two as endangered. No amphibians with federally listed threatened status have populations in Michigan.
Species Common nameState status Acris crepitans blanchardi Blanchard's cricket frog Threatened Ambystoma opacum Marbled salamander Endangered Ambystoma texanum Smallmouth salamander Endangered Pseudacris maculata Boreal chorus frog Special concern Siren intermedia nettingi Western lesser siren Special concern
Reptiles
There are eleven species and subspecies of threatened reptiles in Michigan. Of these, six are listed as species of special concern, three as threatened and two as endangered. One species has federal listed status as threatened, while another is a candidate for federal listing.
Species Common nameState statusFederal status Clemmys guttata Spotted turtle Threatened Clemmys insculpta Wood turtle Special concern Clonophis kirtlandii Kirtland's snake Endangered Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Six-lined racerunner Threatened Emys blandingii Blanding's turtle Special concern Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta Copperbelly water snake Endangered Threatened Pantherophis gloydi Eastern fox snake Threatened Pantherophis alleghaniensis Central ratsnake Special concern Regina septemvittata Queen snake Special concern Sistrurus catenatus catenatus Eastern massasauga Special concern Candidate Terrapene carolina carolina Eastern box turtle Special concern
Birds
There are 42 threatened species and subspecies of birds in Michigan. Of these, 18 are listed as species of special concern, 14 as threatened and 9 as endangered. One additional species is listed as extinct in Michigan, although it previously had a population in the state. Two species have federal listed status as endangered.
Species Common nameState statusFederal status Astur atricapillus American goshawk Special concern Ammodramus henslowii Henslow's sparrow Endangered Ammodramus savannarum Grasshopper sparrow Special concern Asio flammeus Short-eared owl Endangered Asio otus Long-eared owl Threatened Botaurus lentiginosus American bittern Special concern Buteo lineatus Red-shouldered hawk Threatened Charadrius melodus Piping plover Endangered Endangered and critical habitat Chlidonias niger Black tern Special concern Chondestes grammacus Lark sparrow Extinct Circus cyaneus Northern harrier Special concern Cistothorus palustris Marsh wren Special concern Coturnicops noveboracensis Yellow rail Threatened Cygnus buccinator Trumpeter swan Threatened Falcipennis canadensis Spruce grouse Special concern Falco columbarius Merlin Threatened Falco peregrinus Peregrine falcon Endangered Gallinula chloropus Common moorhen Threatened Gavia immer Common loon Threatened Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle Special concern Hydroprogne caspia Caspian tern Threatened Ixobrychus exilis Least bittern Threatened Lanius ludovicianus migrans Migrant loggerhead shrike Endangered Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned night-heron Special concern Pandion haliaetus Osprey Special concern Parkesia motacilla Louisiana waterthrush Threatened Phalaropus tricolor Wilson's phalarope Special concern Picoides arcticus Black-backed woodpecker Special concern Protonotaria citrea Prothonotary warbler Special concern Rallus elegans King rail Endangered Setophaga cerulea Cerulean warbler Threatened Setophaga citrina Hooded warbler Special concern Setophaga discolor Prairie warbler Endangered Setophaga dominica Yellow-throated warbler Threatened Setophaga kirtlandii Kirtland's warbler Endangered Endangered Spiza americana Dickcissel Special concern Sterna forsteri Forster's tern Threatened Sterna hirundo Common tern Threatened Sturnella neglecta Western meadowlark Special concern Tympanuchus phasianellus Sharp-tailed grouse Special concern Tyto furcata American barn owl Endangered Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Yellow-headed blackbird Special concern
Fish
There are 35 species and subspecies of threatened fish in Michigan. Of these, eight are species of special concern, nine are threatened and another nine are listed as endangered. An additional nine species that previously had populations in Michigan are now considered extinct in that state. None of the federally listed species of threatened fish have populations in Michigan.
Species Common nameState status Acipenser fulvescens Lake sturgeon Threatened Ammocrypta pellucida Eastern sand darter Threatened Clinostomus elongatus Redside dace Endangered Coregonus artedi Lake herring Threatened Coregonus hubbsi Ives Lake cisco Threatened Coregonus johannae Deepwater cisco Extinct Coregonus kiyi Kiyi Special concern Coregonus nigripinnis Blackfin cisco Extinct Coregonus reighardi Shortnose cisco Extinct Coregonus zenithicus Shortjaw cisco Threatened Coregonus zenithicus bartletti Siskiwit lake cisco Threatened Cottus ricei Spoonhead sculpin Special concern Erimyzon oblongus Creek chubsucker Endangered Etheostoma spectabile Orangethroat darter Special concern Fundulus dispar Starhead topminnow Special concern Hiodon tergisus Mooneye Threatened Hybopsis amblops Bigeye chub Extinct Lepisosteus oculatus Spotted gar Special concern Macrhybopsis storeriana Silver chub Special concern Moxostoma carinatum River redhorse Threatened Notropis anogenus Pugnose shiner Endangered Notropis chalybaeus Ironcolor shiner ExtinctNotropis dorsalis Bigmouth shiner Special concern Noturus miurus Brindled madtom Special concern Notropis photogenis Silver shiner Endangered Notropis texanus Weed shiner Extinct Noturus stigmosus Northern madtom Endangered Opsopoeodus emiliae Pugnose minnow Endangered Percina copelandi Channel darter Endangered Percina shumardi River darter Endangered Phoxinus erythrogaster Southern redbelly dace Endangered Polyodon spathula Paddlefish Extinct Sander canadensis Sauger Threatened Sander vitreus glaucus Bluepike Extinct Thymallus arcticus Arctic grayling Extinct
Insects
Butterflies and moths
There are 53 species and subspecies of threatened butterflies and moths in Michigan. Of these, 40 are listed as species of special concern, 8 as threatened and 5 as endangered. Two species are also listed as federally endangered, while another is a candidate for federal listing.
Species Common nameState statusFederal status Acronicta falcula Corylus dagger moth Special concern Atrytonopsis hianna Dusted skipper Special concern Basilodes pepita Gold moth Special concern Battus philenor Pipevine swallowtail Special concern Boloria freija Freija fritillary Special concern Boloria frigga Frigga fritillary Special concern Brachionycha borealis Boreal brachionyncha Special concern Calephelis mutica Swamp metalmark Special concern Catocala amestris Three-staff underwing Endangered Catocala dulciola Quiet underwing Special concern Catocala illecta Magdalen underwing Special concern Catocala robinsoni Robinson's underwing Special concern Chlosyne gorgone carlota Gorgone checkerspot Special concern Eacles imperialis pini Pine imperial moth Special concern Erebia discoidalis Red-disked alpine Special concern Erora laeta Early hairstreak Special concern Erynnis baptisiae Wild indigo duskywing Special concern Erynnis persius persius Persius duskywing Threatened Euchloe ausonides Large marble Special concern Euphyes dukesi Dukes' skipper Threatened Euxoa aurulenta Dune cutworm Special concern Fixsenia favonius ontario Northern hairstreak Special concern Hemileuca maia Barrens buckmoth Special concern Hesperia ottoe Ottoe skipper Threatened Heterocampa subrotata Small heterocampa Special concern Heteropacha rileyana Riley's lappet moth Special concern Incisalia henrici Henry's elfin Threatened Incisalia irus Frosted elfin Threatened Merolonche dolli Doll's merolonche Special concern Meropleon ambifusca Newman's brocade Special concern Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii Mitchell's satyr Endangered Endangered Oarisma poweshiek Poweshiek skipperling Threatened Candidate Oeneis macounii Macoun's arctic Special concern Oncocnemis piffardi Three-striped oncocnemis Special concern Pachypolia atricornis Three-horned moth Special concern Papaipema aweme Aweme borer Special concern Papaipema beeriana Blazing star borer Special concern Papaipema cerina Golden borer Special concern Papaipema maritima Maritime sunflower borer Special concern Papaipema sciata Culvers root borer Special concern Papaipema silphii Silphium borer moth Threatened Papaipema speciosissima Regal fern borer Special concern Phyciodes batesii Tawny crescent Special concern Plebejus idas nabokovi Northern blue Threatened Plebejus melissa samuelis Karner blue Threatened Endangered Polygonia gracilis Hoary comma Special concern Proserpinus flavofasciata Yellow-banded day-sphinx Special concern Pygarctia spraguei Sprague's pygarctia Special concern Pyrgus wyandot Grizzled skipper Special concern Schinia indiana Phlox moth Endangered Schinia lucens Leadplant flower moth Endangered Spartiniphaga inops Spartina moth Special concern Speyeria idalia Regal fritillary Endangered
Beetles