Monarch butterfly on a purple Rocky Mountain bee plant.

Threatened and Endangered Species

The BLM is a leader in the conservation of wildlife, fish, and plant species and their habitats. BLM-managed lands provide habitat for more than 3,000 special status species. The BLM Threatened and Endangered Species Program works to conserve all special status species, which include species federally listed as threatened or endangered and species identified as “sensitive” by the BLM. Special status species include mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, invertebrates, fish, and plants. Learn more on our special status species webpage. 

A lesser long-nosed bat flies to a flower to drink nectar.
Lesser long nosed-bat. Photo Courtesy of Scott Altenbach, Bat Conservation International

Each BLM state office has fish and wildlife biologists and botanists who work to manage habitat to conserve species. Biologists and botanists work together to protect habitat that species use throughout the year, such as for breeding, migration, or wintering. The BLM coordinates with state and federal agencies, Tribal governments, universities, industry, private landowners, non-governmental conservation organizations, and other partners to conserve and recover fish, wildlife, and plant species and their habitats on public lands. Learn more about our partners. 

The priority of the BLM Threatened and Endangered Species Program is proactive conservation and recovery of BLM special status species. By managing and improving what we have today, we can increase conservation successes and avoid future species population and habitat declines.

Success Stories

Colorado
A small cactus with purple flowers rests on a landscape in front of a mesa and a field of white flowers

Sclerocactus glaucus: Prickly Colorado native no longer listed as threatened

Sclerocactus glaucus, a Colorado hookless cactus, was announced to be delisted from the federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants due to recovery May 29, 2025.
Arizona, Gila DO
People standing and sitting in a creek with with buckets and scientific equipment

Successful mechanical removal of green sunfish from closed systems in southern Arizona

The green sunfish, which is native to eastern North America, was deemed by fish biologists as the most significant threat to native fishes in Aravaipa and Bonita creeks.
Alaska
A wood bison stands in a snowy landscape

Alaska Wood Bison Restoration project poised to build on decades of effort

Support alone wouldn’t return the wood bison to Alaska, the need to weave local knowledge with western science and several partners was required.
Wyoming, Cody FO
A black-footed ferret sticks its head out of its home, which is a hole in the ground.

First taste of freedom: 18 captive-born ferrets released in northwest Wyoming

BLM Wyoming Cody Field Office had the unique honor of participating in a release of endangered, captive-born black-footed ferrets to private and public land this fall in northwest Wyoming.