At-risk species
At-risk species are plants or animals that have either been proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA); are candidates for listing; or are species that have been petitioned for listing. The category also includes species undergoing an agency discretionary review. By working with private landowners, states, tribes, other federal agencies and non-governmental organizations, the Service has been able to conserve dozens of at-risk species and preclude the need to list them under the ESA through proactive conservation efforts.
- South Carolina list of endangered, threatened, and at-risk species
- South Carolina at-risk species factsheet
- Southeast Region At-Risk Species Finder
Program contacts for at-risk species in South Carolina
Whitney Beisler, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
whitney_beisler@fws.gov, (843) 727-4707 ext. 228
Lead for eastern black rail (proposed for listing October 2018), golden-winged warbler, saltmarsh sparrow, and green salamander.
Melissa Chaplin, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
melissa_chaplin@fws.gov, (843) 727-4707 ext. 217
Lead for black-capped petrel (proposed for listing October 2018).
Christopher Hernandez, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
christopher_hernandez@fws.gov, (843) 727-4707 ext. 213
Lead for frosted elfin, monarch butterfly, Calvert’s emerald, Edmund’s snaketail, Margarita River cruiser (aka Mountain River skimmer), Septima’s clubtail, Smokies needlefly, and spotted turtle.
Melanie Olds, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
melanie_olds@fws.gov, (843) 727-4707 ext. 205
Lead for gopher frog, Little River crayfish (aka Broad River spiny crayfish), mimic crayfish, Newberry burrowing crayfish (aka Saluda crayfish), gopher tortoise, Carolina pygmy sunfish, robust redhorse, Florida pine snake, and southern hognose snake.
April Punsalan, Botanist
april_punsalan@fws.gov, (843) 727-4707 ext. 218
Lead for bog spicebush, Boykin’s lobelia, Carolina birds-in-a-nest, Carolina hemlock, ciliate-leaf tickseed, Georgia lead-plant, Godfrey’s stitchwort, Harper’s fimbristylis, mountain purple pitcher plant, Ocmulgee skullcap, purpledisk honeycombhead, Raven’s seedbox, ravine sedge (aka impressed nerve sedge), sun-facing coneflower, Venus flytrap, wireleaf dropseed, and yellow pond lily (aka Cape Fear spatterdock).
Paula Sisson, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
paula_sission@fws.gov, (843) 727-4707 ext. 226
Lead for eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
Morgan Wolf, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
morgan_wolf@fws.gov, (843) 727-4707 ext. 219
Lead for Chamberlain’s dwarf salamander, Atlantic pigtoe (proposed for listing October 2018), brook floater, tri-colored bat, and little brown bat.
More information
South Carolina