For the next two weeks you can tell New York State wildlife officials just what birds, fish, turtles, insects and other creatures need help surviving. One local scientist is reflecting on the importance of the “List of Species of Greatest Concern”.
When Doctor James Gibbs came across a wood turtle recently in Tully, he says the rare sighting was a emblematic.
“It’s a beautiful turtle, absolutely spectacular. It’s the kind of creature our grandparents would have found all the time as kids and they have simply disappeared from our environment. I think they’re a good example of a creature that, completely endearing, our kids don’t have the opportunity to come upon a wood turtle with all the delight they would have. So we’re the poorer for not having it common in our environment.”
Gibbs is a Conservation Biology Professor at SUNY ESF, … and had input on the Species of Concern list. He says the wood turtle has just seen too many disruptions in its habitat to thrive.
He acknowledges that most people won’t be too familiar with many of the animals and insects on the list, such as the Indiana bat, or paddlefish or the Green faced clubtail – that’s a type of dragonfly.
People might be more concerned protecting the Bald Eagle or the whippoorwill or fish or salamanders on the list.
“The good news is that the threats are things under our control. It’s habitat loss, invasive species and pollution. Climate change is also in there as something somewhat under our control. But for the most part we know for each species what the issue is and what might be done to correct those problems.”
Gibbs is optimistic about the process…which he says can keep some of more than 300 species from becoming endangered or extinct. After public comments comes a final protection list…then federal funds support measures to help.
Public comments are open through March 9th . You can find a link to the list here.
