Fish and Wildlife Service-Endangered Species

Endangered Species

Blackside Dace taken by Brent Harrel, USFWS

In 1973, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act, recognizing that: (1) various species of fish, wildlife, and plants in the United States have been rendered extinct as a consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation, (2) other species of fish, wildlife and plants have been so depleted in numbers that they are in danger of or threatened with extinction, and (3) these species of fish, wildlife, and plants are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the United States and its people. The intended purpose of the Act is to provide a means by which the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend may be conserved and to provide a program for the conservation of those species.

Important components of the Endangered Species Act include: (1) listing/recovery [Section 4], (2) cooperation with states [Section 6], (3) consultation Fanshell Mussel [Section 7], (4) enforcement [Section 9], and (5) incidental take permits [Section 10].

Section 4 provides the process by which species are added to or removed from the official list of endangered or threatened species, and by which recovery plans are developed; Section 6 allows the Service to enter into cooperative agreements with states to implement recovery activities

Section 7 requires all Federal agencies to consult with the Service for all actions they authorize, fund, or carry out; Section 9 prohibits take of listed species and provides penalties for violations; and Section 10 allows the Service to issue permits for incidental take of listed species for scientific purposes, or through the development of habitat conservation plans (HCP's) by non-Federal entities.

The Kentucky Field Office is actively involved in Section 7 consultations and Section 4 listing and recovery activities. Kentucky currently or historically provided habitat for over 50 species of threatened or endangered plants or animals.

Current List of Kentucky's Threatened, Endangered,
and Federal Candidate Species

Questions concerning endangered species can be addressed to
Dr. Michael A. Floyd (mike_floyd@fws.gov)

Bald Eagle Technical Assistance Home Page: http://www.fws.gov/southeast/es/

Last updated: August 29, 2007

J. C. Watts Federal Building
330 W. Broadway Rm. 265
Frankfort, KY 40601