Nebraska Ecological Services Field Office

Federally Listed Species and Critical Habitats 

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides protection and conservation for listed fish, wildlife, plants, and the habitats which they depend upon. The term "listed species" generically refers to species that may belong to any of the following categories: endangered, threatened, proposed, candidate. More information on the categories of listing can be found at IPaC: Listing status. 

In the tables below are the common and scientific names, statuses, and distributions of the federally endangered and threatened species, and federally designated critical habitats found in Nebraska.

To obtain an Official Species List, please visit the Service’s Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC). The Official Species List you obtain from IPaC will identify the federally protected wildlife and plant species (i.e., threatened, endangered, or candidate species, migratory birds, and eagles) and any federally designated critical habitats that may occur in your Action Area. For guidance on what to information to include in technical assistance and section 7 consultation requests, view the Nebraska Project Planning Review tab. 

BIRDS

* The eskimo curlew remains federally protected wherever found. Although this species has never been officially designated as extinct, conservation biologists believe this species is extinct (Silcock and Jorgensen 2020). 

INVERTEBRATES

**  For the endangered mussel species, only the shells of these species have been found. No populations currently exist in Nebraska. This species is thought to be extirpated, although, it remains protected wherever it is found.

FISH

PLANTS

MAMMALS

*** There are no populations of black-footed ferrets in Nebraska. Although, this species remains protected wherever found. To learn about the black-footed ferret recovery program, click here. 

Federally listed species are also state-listed under the Nebraska Nongame Endangered Species Conservation Act (or NESCA), which is administered by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. 

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Eagles and Other Migratory Birds

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Migratory Bird Program is the lead federal agency for conserving migratory birds, serving to protect, restore, and manage over one thousand different species ensuring these treasures will be around for future generations to admire and enjoy. Our office works with the Migratory Bird Program to carry out this mission, primarily by reviewing and providing recommendations to our partners and proponents to protect and conserve migratory birds and eagle species in Nebraska as well as provide assistance with project permitting. 

Bald and Golden Eagles

The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) provides protection for the bald eagle (Halieetus leucocephalus)and golden eagle (Aquila chrystaetos). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to the conservation of eagles throughout the United States. We understand that certain activities and endeavors that people undertake that are otherwise legal and abide by other laws may result in unintentional (also called non-purposeful or incidental) harm to eagles. This harm can be in the form of disturbance to eagles, encroachment on eagle nests, and loss of individual eagles, and is often called "take."

The term "take" under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act "means pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, destroy, molest, or disturb" an eagle (50 CFR 22.6). 

To avoid disturbing eagles, we recommend implementing the conservation conditions in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines. The Eagle Act also has regulations for permitting take, possession, and transportation of bald eagles or golden eagles (50 CFR 22). You can visit the Service’s Eagle Management page for more information on obtaining a permit.

To learn more about the status and distribution of eagles in Nebraska you can visit Birds of Nebraska – Online and view species pages on bald eagles and golden eagles. 

If you are not a wildlife official or permitted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to salvage eagles, please report a deceased eagle or eagle parts/feathers to the nearest wildlife official. Do not attempt to salvage an eagle carcass or any parts/feathers without prior coordination with the Service. 

Migratory Birds 

The Migratory Birds Treaty Act (MBTA) provides protection for the migratory bird species listed in 50 CFR 10.13. The MBTA makes it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations. Effective measure that should be employed at all project development sites nationwide with the goal of reducing impacts to birds and their habitats can be found at the Nationwide Avoidance & Minimization Measures for Birds page. To learn about the status and distribution of a particular bird species in Nebraska, visit Birds of Nebraska - Online.