Wildlife officials say South Dakota’s threatened or endangered species list may be expanding. Following are the species that are being considered and what measures can be taken to help bolster populations.
Charlene Bessken is a biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. She says some wildlife in South Dakota are endangered or threatened because of population and habitat fragmentation.
“Right now we have four species that are proposed for listing. We have a bird called the Rufa Red Knot, a mammal that’s a northern long-eared bat, and then we have two small butterfly species, one is the Dakota Skipper and the other is the Poweshiek Skipperling,” says Bessken.
Bessken says South Dakota bat populations may be in danger of contracting a fungal disease called white nose syndrome - it can be transferred by people that pick it up on their shoes or clothing in one cave and transfer it to other caves.
“It’s somewhat new. It started in the eastern part of the United States and has been gradually spreading to the west. At this point we don’t have white nose syndrome in South Dakota but it may be just a matter of time before it shows up here,” says Bessken.
Bessken says South Dakota’s threatened or endangered species list is maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and updated as needed. She says South Dakotans can help keep wildlife off the list by leaving natural habitats undisturbed, using pesticides responsibly, and keeping runoff out of wetlands.
