Idaho's Special Status Vertebrates and Invertebrates
History. In 1977, Dr. Charles Trost (Idaho State University) and Dr. Don Johnson (University of Idaho), on behalf of the Idaho Natural Areas Council, compiled the first list of vertebrate species of special concern in Idaho. That effort primarily analyzed the status of 48 rare fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals with respect to their conservation in
Research Natural Areas. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game published its first list of Species of Special Concern in the 1981-1985 Nongame Management Plan, and much of the list was based on the earlier work of Trost and Johnson.
The 2004-2005 Idaho Legislature passed a revision of the
Rules of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission, IDAPA 13.01.06, “Rules Governing Classification and Protection of Wildlife” (PDF Format, 2.4 MB). This legal document designates Idaho's Big Game, Upland Game, Game Birds, Game Fish, Furbearing Animals, Threatened or Endangered Species, Predatory Wildlife, and Protected Nongame Species. One of the most notable distinctions of the new classification is that it gives Protected Nongame status to all bat species and to all native reptiles and amphibians.
Status. Each of the following organizations and agencies has developed categories of status for animals. Click on each to view the respective statuses and definitions of status.
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