Recovery of Threatened and Endangered Species

The goal of the Endangered Species Program is recovery of threatend and endangered species to levels where federal protection is no longer needed. Biologists guide this process by preparing or approving recovery plans that specify actions necessary to set a species on the road to recovery.

Recovery occurs when:

• Threats to listed animals and plants are reduce or eliminated,
• Self-sustaining populations can survive in the wild and;
• A species is removed from the endangered and threatened species list.

The Chesapeake Bay Field Office is responsible for protecting threatened and endangered species in Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia and portions of Virginia. Currently, 22 federally listed plants and animals occur in this region. The goal of the Endangered Species Program is recovery of these species to levels where federal protection is no longer needed. Biologists guide this process by preparing or approving recovery plans that specify actions necessary to set a species on the road to recovery, and by leading, implementing, and coordinating many of these recovery tasks with partners.

Sample recovery activities by the Chesapeake Bay Field Office

• Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) planting with National Park Service, Maryland Department of Natural Resource, The Nature Conservancy and others
• Delmarva fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) recovery plan update and 5-yr status review
• Bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) habitat restoration with Partners for Fish and Wildlife, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Defense, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.
• Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) monitoring protocol team
• Delmarva fox squirrel seasonal detectability study at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
• Delmarva fox squirrel habitat use study at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Learn More:
FWS national web page on Recovery