4VAC15-20-130. Endangered and threatened species; adoption of federal list; additional species enumerated.
A. The board hereby adopts the Federal Endangered and Threatened Species List, Endangered Species Act of December 28, 1973 (16 USC §§ 1531-1543), as amended as of December 28, 2022, and declares all species listed thereon to be endangered or threatened species in the Commonwealth. Pursuant to subdivision 12 of § 29.1-103 of the Code of Virginia, the director of the department is hereby delegated authority to propose adoption of modifications and amendments to the Federal Endangered and Threatened Species List in accordance with the procedures of §§ 29.1-501 and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
B. In addition to the provisions of subsection A of this section, the following species are declared endangered or threatened in this Commonwealth and are afforded the protection provided by Article 6 (§ 29.1-563 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 29.1 of the Code of Virginia:
1. Fish: | |
Endangered: | |
Dace, Clinch | Chrosomus sp. cf. saylori |
Dace, Tennessee | Phoxinus tennesseensis |
Darter, sharphead | Etheostoma acuticeps |
Darter, variegate | Etheostoma variatum |
Sunfish, blackbanded | Enneacanthus chaetodon |
Threatened: | |
Darter, Carolina | Etheostoma collis |
Darter, golden | Etheostoma denoncourti |
Darter, greenfin | Etheostoma chlorobranchium |
Darter, western sand | Ammocrypta clara |
Madtom, orangefin | Noturus gilberti |
Paddlefish | Polyodon spathula |
Shiner, emerald | Notropis atherinoides |
Shiner, steelcolor | Cyprinella whipplei |
Shiner, whitemouth | Notropis alborus |
2. Amphibians: | |
Endangered: | |
Salamander, eastern tiger | Ambystoma tigrinum |
Threatened: | |
Salamander, Mabee's | Ambystoma mabeei |
3. Reptiles: | |
Endangered: | |
Rattlesnake, canebrake (Coastal Plain population of timber rattlesnake) | Crotalus horridus |
Turtle, bog | Glyptemys muhlenbergii |
Turtle, eastern chicken | Deirochelys reticularia |
Threatened: | |
Lizard, eastern glass | Ophisaurus ventralis |
Turtle, wood | Glyptemys insculpta |
4. Birds: | |
Endangered: | |
Plover, Wilson's | Charadrius wilsonia |
Rail, black | Laterallus jamaicensis |
Woodpecker, red-cockaded | Dryobates borealis |
Wren, Bewick's | Thryomanes bewickii |
Threatened: | |
Falcon, peregrine | Falco peregrinus |
Shrike, loggerhead | Lanius ludovicianus |
Sparrow, Bachman's | Aimophila aestivalis |
Sparrow, Henslow's | Ammodramus henslowii |
Tern, gull-billed | Sterna nilotica |
5. Mammals: | |
Endangered: | |
Bat, Rafinesque's eastern big-eared | Corynorhinus rafinesquii macrotis |
Bat, little brown | Myotis lucifugus |
Bat, tri-colored | Perimyotis subflavus |
Hare, snowshoe | Lepus americanus |
Shrew, American water | Sorex palustris |
Vole, rock | Microtus chrotorrhinus |
6. Mollusks: | |
Endangered: | |
Coil, rubble | Helicodiscus lirellus |
Coil, shaggy | Helicodiscus diadema |
Deertoe | Truncilla truncata |
Elephantear | Elliptio crassidens |
Elimia, spider | Elimia arachnoidea |
Floater, brook | Alasmidonta varicosa |
Ghostsnail, thankless | Holsingeria unthanksensis |
Heelsplitter, Tennessee | Lasmigona holstonia |
Lilliput, purple | Toxolasma lividus |
Mussel, slippershell | Alasmidonta viridis |
Pigtoe, Ohio | Pleurobema cordatum |
Pigtoe, pyramid | Pleurobema rubrum |
Springsnail, Appalachian | Fontigens bottimeri |
Springsnail (no common name) | Fontigens morrisoni |
Supercoil, spirit | Paravitrea hera |
Threatened: | |
Floater, green | Lasmigona subviridis |
Papershell, fragile | Leptodea fragilis |
Pimpleback | Quadrula pustulosa |
Pistolgrip | Tritogonia verrucosa |
Riversnail, spiny | Iofluvialis |
Sandshell, black | Ligumia recta |
Supercoil, brown | Paravitrea septadens |
7. Arthropods: | |
Threatened: | |
Amphipod, Madison Cave | Stygobromus stegerorum |
Pseudotremia, Ellett Valley | Pseudotremia cavernarum |
Xystodesmid, Laurel Creek | Sigmoria whiteheadi |
C. It shall be unlawful to take, transport, process, sell, or offer for sale within the Commonwealth any threatened or endangered species of fish or wildlife except as authorized by law.
D. The incidental take of certain species may occur in certain circumstances and with the implementation of certain conservation practices as described in this subsection:
Species | Location | Allowable Circumstances | Required Conservation Measures | Expected Incidental Take |
Little brown bat Tri-colored bat | Statewide | Human health risk – need for removal of individual animals from human-habited structures. | Between May 15 and August 31, no exclusion of bats from maternity colonies, except for human health concerns. Department-permitted nuisance wildlife control operator with department-recognized certification in techniques associated with removal of bats. Use of exclusion devices that allow individual animals to escape. Manual collection of individual animals incapable of sustaining themselves; transport to a willing and appropriately permitted wildlife rehabilitator. | Little to no direct lethal taking expected. |
Public safety or property damage risk – need for tree removal, application of prescribed fire, or other land management actions affecting known roosts; removal of animals from known roosts. | Hibernacula: no tree removal, use of prescribed fire, or other land management action within a 250-foot radius buffer area from December 1 through April 30. Between September 1 and November 30, increase the buffer to a 1/4-mile radius with the following conditions: for timber harvests greater than 20 acres, retain snags and wolf trees (if not presenting public safety or property risk) and small tree groups up to 15 trees of 3-inch diameter at breast height (dbh) or greater, one tree group per 20 acres. Otherwise, document the need (public safety, property damage risk) for tree removal during this period and verify that no known roost trees exist in the buffer area. Tree removal and prescribed fire are permitted outside of these dates. Known roost trees: no tree removal, use of prescribed fire, or other land management action within a 150-foot radius buffer area from June 1 through July 31, if possible. Otherwise, document public safety or property damage risk. Department-permitted nuisance wildlife control operator with department-recognized certification in techniques associated with removal of bats. Use of exclusion devices that allow individual animals to escape. Manual collection of individual animals incapable of sustaining themselves; transport to a willing and appropriately permitted wildlife rehabilitator. | Little to no direct lethal taking expected. |
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR325-01-1 § 13, eff. January 1, 1992; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. January 1, 1996; Volume 17, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2001; Volume 22, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2006; Volume 24, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2008; Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2011; Volume 29, Issue 9, eff. January 1, 2013; Volume 30, Issue 24, eff. August 1, 2014; Volume 32, Issue 14, eff. April 1, 2016; Volume 33, Issue 5, eff. October 10, 2016; Volume 35, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2019; Volume 37, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2021; Errata, 38:13 VA.R. 2075 February 14, 2022; amended, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 24, eff. July 17, 2023.