The lists of New Jersey’s endangered, threatened, and special concern wildlife species are maintained by the NJDEP Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP). These lists are used to determine protection and management actions necessary to ensure the survival of our state’s endangered, threatened and other nongame wildlife. See the Species Status Assessment page for information on the listing process. These assessments help determine which species should be listed on the NJ Endangered species list or designated as Threatened, Special Concern, Stable-Secure, or Undetermined-Unknown on the state’s list of nongame wildlife.
Please report observations of Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern wildlife, as well as ‘Species of Interest’ (in tables below) and Species of Greatest Conservation Need, using the NJ Wildlife Tracker application. Please use the application to also report wildlife of any status you observe on the road (dead or alive).
Wildlife Species Status Classifications
Endangered Species are those whose prospects for survival in New Jersey are in immediate danger because of a loss or change in habitat, over-exploitation, predation, competition, disease, disturbance or contamination. Assistance is needed to prevent future extinction in New Jersey. See below for the list of endangered species in New Jersey.
Threatened Species are those who may become endangered if conditions surrounding them begin to or continue to deteriorate. See below for the list of threatened species in New Jersey
- Wildlife species with the status of endangered or threatened are on the New Jersey Endangered Species List, located at N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.13.
Species of Special Concern are those who warrant special attention because of some evidence of decline, inherent vulnerability to environmental deterioration, or habitat modification that would result in their becoming a threatened species. This category also applies to species that meet the foregoing criteria and for which there is little understanding of their current population status in the state. See below for the list of species of special concern.
Species with Status of Undetermined-Unknown are those that cannot be assigned a status of endangered, threatened, special concern or secure-stable because not enough information exists on which to base such a determination. See below for the list of these species in New Jersey.
- Wildlife species with the status of special concern or undetermined-unknown are on the New Jersey list of regulated nongame species, located at N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.17.
Species of Greatest Conservation Need are determined separately from species status assessments. These are indigenous species that have met specific criteria that warrant being listed as such in the New Jersey State Wildlife Action Plan. This list includes all state listed species as well as those listed as concern based on national or regional plans/criteria. For more information about species of greatest conservation need, see the New Jersey State Wildlife Action Plan .
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Species
Species names in the tables below link to PDF documents containing identification, habitat and status and conservation information. For more detailed descriptions, photographs, and range maps of New Jersey’s endangered, threatened, and special concern species, you may refer to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ’s online field guide, however that guide is not updated with species conservation statuses adopted in January, 2025.
Birds
Endangered | Threatened | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Botaurus lentiginosus BR |
Bobolink BR |
Dolichonyx oryzivorus BR | ||
Accipiter gentilis BR |
|
Falco peregrinus BR | ||
Podilymbus podiceps BR |
Falco sparverius | |||
Circus hudsonius BR |
Lark, Horned BR |
Eremophila alpestris BR | ||
Buteo lineatus BR |
|
Meadowlark, Eastern |
Sturnella magna | |
Knot, Red** NB |
Calidris canutus** NB |
Nycticorax nycticorax BR | ||
Asio flammeus BR |
Nyctanassa violacea BR | |||
Charadrius melodus** |
Owl, Barn BR |
Tyto alba BR | ||
Laterallus jamaicensis |
|
Strix varia | ||
Rail, King BR |
Rallus elegans BR |
Asio otus | ||
Bartramia longicauda |
Ammodramus savannarum BR | |||
Lanius ludovicianus NB |
|
Sparrow, Saltmarsh BR |
Ammospiza caudacuta BR | |
Rynchops niger |
|
Passerculus sandwichensis BR | ||
Centronyx henslowii |
Warbler, Kentucky BR |
Geothlypis formosa BR | ||
Pooecetes gramineus BR |
|
Melanerpes erythrocephalus | ||
Sternula antillarum |
|
| ||
Sterna dougallii** |
|
| ||
Vermivora chrysoptera |
|
| ||
Cistothorus stellaris |
|
|
| |
**Federally | BR |
Reptiles
Endangered | Threatened | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Pantherophis guttatus |
|
Copperhead, Eastern |
Agkistrodon contortrix | |
Regina septemvittata |
Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus | |||
Crotalus horridus |
|
Scarletsnake, Northern |
Cemophora coccinea copei | |
Glyptemys muhlenbergii** |
Glyptemys insculpta | |||
Chelonia mydas** |
|
|
| |
Turtle, Hawksbill Sea** |
Eretmochelys imbricata** |
|
| |
Lepidochelys kempii** |
|
|
| |
Turtle, Leatherback Sea** |
Dermochelys coriacea** | |||
Caretta caretta** | ||||
**Federally |
Amphibians
Endangered | Threatened | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Ambystoma laterale |
Pseudotriton montanus montanus | |||
Ambystoma tigrinum |
Eurycea longicauda longicauda | |||
Dryophytes chrysocelis | ||||
|
|
|
Dryophytes andersonii |
Invertebrates
Endangered | Threatened | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Bee, Rusty-patched Bumble ** |
Bombus affinis** |
|
Baskettail, Robust (dragonfly) |
Epitheca spinosa |
Nicrophorus americanus** |
Clubtail, Banner (dragonfly) |
Hylogomphus apomyius | ||
Habroscelimorpha dorsalis dorsalis** |
Clubtail, Harpoon (dragonfly) |
Phanogomphus descriptus | ||
Tharsalea hyllus |
Comma, Gray (butterfly) |
Polygonia progne | ||
Alasmidonta varicosa |
Elfin, Frosted (butterfly) |
Callophrys irus | ||
Lasmigona subviridis |
Elfin, Hoary (butterfly) |
Callophrys polios | ||
Fritillary, Myrina (butterfly) |
Boloria myrina myrina |
|
Emerald, Kennedy’s (dragonfly) |
Somatochlora kennedyi |
Hairstreak, Acadian (butterfly) |
Satyrium acadica |
|
Alasmidonta undulata | |
Metalmark, Northern (butterfly) |
Calephelis borealis |
|
Jewelwing, Superb (dragonfly) |
Calopteryx amata |
Petaltail, Gray (dragonfly) |
Tachopteryx thoreyi |
Lampsilis radiata | ||
Satyr, Mitchell’s (butterfly)** |
Neonympha m. mitchellii** |
Lampsilis cariosa | ||
Skipper, Appalachian Grizzled (butterfly) |
Pyrgus centaureae wyandot |
Leptodea ochracea | ||
Skipper, Eastern Arogos (butterfly) |
Atrytone arogos arogos |
Ligumia nasuta | ||
Alasmidonta heterodon** |
Roadside-Skipper, Common (butterfly) |
Amblyscirtes vialis | ||
|
|
Satyr, Georgia (butterfly) |
Neonympha areolatus | |
|
|
Skipper, Dotted (butterfly) |
Hesperia attalus | |
|
|
|
Skipper, Leonard’s (butterfly) |
Hesperia leonardus |
|
|
|
Skipper, Pepper and Salt (butterfly) |
Amblyscirtes hegon |
|
|
|
Skipper, Two-spotted (butterfly) |
Euphyes bimacula |
|
|
|
Snaketail, Brook, (dragonfly) |
Ophiogomphus aspersus |
|
|
|
White, Checkered (butterfly) |
Pontia protodice |
**Federally |
Mammals
Endangered | Threatened | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Myotis sodalis** |
Lynx rufus | |||
Bat, Tricolored |
Perimyotis subflavus |
|
| |
Myotis (bat), Eastern Small-footed |
Myotis leibii |
|
| |
Myotis (bat), Northern** |
Myotis septentrionalis** |
|
| |
Myotis (bat), Little Brown |
Myotis lucifugus |
|
| |
Whale, North Atlantic Right** |
Eubalaena glacialis** |
|
| |
Whale, Fin** |
Balaenoptera physalus** |
|
| |
Whale, Humpback** |
Megaptera novaeangliae** |
|
| |
Neotoma magister |
|
| ||
**Federally |
Fish
Endangered | Threatened | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Shiner, Bridle |
Notropis bifrenatus |
|
Sculpin, Slimy |
Cottus cognatus |
Shiner, Ironcolor |
Notropis chalybaeus |
|
|
|
Sturgeon, Atlantic** |
Acipenser oxyrinchus** |
|
|
|
Acipenser brevirostrum** |
|
|
| |
**Federally |
Special Concern Wildlife Species
Birds
Botaurus lentiginosus NB | |
Bittern, Least |
Ixobrychus exilis |
Blackbird, Rusty |
Euphagus carolinus |
Bobolink NB |
Dolichonyx oryzivorus NB |
Chat, Yellow-breasted BR |
Icteria virens BR |
Cuckoo, Black-billed |
Coccyzus erythropthalmus |
Eagle, Bald BR |
Haliaeetus leucocephalus BR |
Bubulcus ibis BR | |
Egret, Snowy BR |
Egretta thula BR |
Flycatcher, Least BR |
Empidonax minimus BR |
Flycatcher, Olive-sided NB |
Contopus cooperi NB |
Grosbeak, Rose-breasted BR |
Pheucticus ludovicianus BR |
Podilymbus podiceps NB | |
Circus hudsonius NB | |
Hawk, Broad-winged BR |
Buteo platypterus BR |
Buteo lineatus NB | |
Heron, Great Blue BR |
Ardea herodias BR |
Heron, Green BR |
Butorides virescens BR |
Heron, Little Blue |
Egretta caerulea |
Heron, Tricolored |
Egretta tricolor |
Ibis, Glossy BR |
Plegadis falcinellus BR |
Lark, Horned NB |
Eremophila alpestris NB |
Martin, Purple BR |
Progne subis BR |
Night-heron, Black-crowned NB |
Nycticorax nycticorax NB |
Night-heron, Yellow-crowned NB |
Nyctanassa violacea NB |
Nighthawk, Common |
Chordeiles minor BR |
Owl, Barn NB |
Tyto alba NB |
Asio flammeus NB | |
Oystercatcher, American |
Haematopus palliatus |
Sanderling NB |
Calidris alba NB |
Sandpiper, Semipalmated NB |
Calidris pusilla NB |
Sandpiper, Spotted BR |
Actitis macularius BR |
Sparrow, Field BR |
Spizella pusilla BR |
Ammodramus savannarum NB | |
Sparrow, Ipswich NB |
Passerculus sandwichensis princeps NB |
Sparrow, Saltmarsh NB |
Ammospiza caudacuta NB |
Sparrow, Vesper NB |
Pooecetes gramineus NB |
Swallow, Cliff BR |
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota BR |
Swallow, Bank BR |
Riparia riparia BR |
Swift, Chimney BR |
Chaetura pelagica BR |
Tern, Caspian BR |
Hydroprogne caspia BR |
Tern, Common BR |
Sterna hirundo BR |
Tern, Gull-billed |
Gelochelidon nilotica |
Thrasher, Brown BR |
Toxostoma rufum BR |
Thrush, Bicknell’s NB |
Catharus bicknelli NB |
Thrush, Wood BR |
Hylocichla mustelina BR |
Turnstone, Ruddy NB |
Arenaria interpres NB |
Warbler, Blackburnian BR |
Setophaga fusca BR |
Warbler, Black-throated Blue BR |
Setophaga caerulescens BR |
Warbler, Black-throated Green BR |
Setophaga virens BR |
Warbler, Blue-winged BR |
Vermivora cyanoptera BR |
Warbler, Canada |
Cardellina canadensis |
Warbler, Cerulean |
Setophaga cerulea |
Warbler, Kentucky NB |
Geothlypis formosa NB |
Warbler, Nashville BR |
Leiothlypis ruficapilla BR |
Warbler, Prairie BR |
Setophaga discolor BR |
Whip-poor-will, Eastern |
Antrostomus vociferus |
Melanerpes erythrocephalus NB | |
Wren, Winter BR |
Troglodytes hiemalis BR |
Veery BR |
Catharus fuscescens BR |
BR |
Reptiles
Earthsnake, Eastern Smooth |
Virginia valeriae valeriae |
Greensnake, Rough |
Opheodrys aestivus |
Greensnake, Smooth |
Opheodrys vernalis |
Kingsnake, Eastern |
Lampropeltis getula |
Skink, Little Brown |
Scincella lateralis |
Snake, Eastern Hog-nosed |
Heterodon platirhinos |
Terrapin, Northern Diamond-backed |
Malaclemys terrapin terrapin |
Turtle, Woodland Box |
Terrapene carolina carolina |
Turtle, Spotted |
Clemmys guttata |
Amphibians
Frog, Carpenter |
Lithobates virgatipes |
Frog, Eastern Cricket |
Acris crepitans |
Frog, New Jersey Chorus |
Pseudacris kalmi |
Salamander, Jefferson |
Ambystoma jeffersonianum |
Salamander, Marbled |
Ambystoma opacum |
Salamander, Northern Spring |
Gyrinophilus porphyriticus porphyriticus |
Salamander, Spotted |
Ambystoma maculatum |
Spadefoot, Eastern |
Scaphiopus holbrookii |
Invertebrates
Bluet, New England (dragonfly) |
Enallagma laterale |
Bluet, Pine Barrens (dragonfly) |
Enallagma recurvatum |
Bluet, Scarlet (dragonfly) |
Enallagma pictum |
Brown, Eyed (butterfly) |
Lethe eurydice |
Checkerspot, Baltimore (butterfly) |
Euphydryas phaeton |
Checkerspot, Harris’s (butterfly) |
Chlosyne harrisii |
Clubtail, Cobra (dragonfly) |
Gomphurus vastus |
Clubtail, Green-faced (dragonfly) |
Hylogomphus viridifrons |
Clubtail, Midland (dragonfly) |
Gomphurus fraternus |
Clubtail, Rapids (dragonfly) |
Phanogomphus quadricolor |
Clubtail, Sable (dragonfly) |
Stenogomphurus rogersi |
Clubtail, Septima’s (dragonfly) |
Gomphurus septima |
Clubtail, Zebra (dragonfly) |
Stylurus scudderi |
Creeper (mussel) |
Strophitus undulatus |
Cruiser, Allegheny River (dragonfly) |
Macromia alleghaniensis |
Darner, Spatterdock (dragonfly) |
Rhionaeschna mutata |
Darner, Subarctic (dragonfly) |
Aeshna subarctica |
Duskywing, Sleepy (butterfly) |
Erynnis brizo |
Emerald, Brush-tipped (dragonfly) |
Somatochlora walshii |
Emerald, Coppery (dragonfly) |
Somatochlora georgiana |
Emerald, Forcipate (dragonfly) |
Somatochlora forcipata |
Emerald, Ski-tipped (dragonfly) |
Somatochlora elongata |
Emerald, Williamson’s (dragonfly) |
Somatochlora williamsoni |
Hairstreak, Hessel’s (butterfly) |
Callophrys hesseli |
Hairstreak, Hickory (butterfly) |
Satyrium caryaevorus |
Hairstreak, Northern Oak (butterfly) |
Satyrium favonius ontario |
Monarch (butterfly) |
Danaus plexippus |
Shrimp, Eastern Fairy |
Eubranchipus holmanii |
Skimmer, Golden-winged (dragonfly) |
Libellula auripennis |
Skipper, Dusted (butterfly) |
Atrytonopsis hianna |
Skipper, Rare (butterfly) |
Problema bulenta |
Spiketail, Arrowhead (dragonfly) |
Cordulegaster obliqua |
Spiketail, Tiger (dragonfly) |
Cordulegaster erronea |
Snaketail, Extra-striped (dragonfly) |
Ophiogomphus anomalus |
Snaketail, Maine (dragonfly) |
Ophiogomphus mainensis |
Tortoiseshell, Compton (butterfly) |
Nymphalis l-album |
Whiteface, Crimson-ringed (dragonfly) |
Leucorrhinia glacialis |
Whiteface, Hudsonian (dragonfly) |
Leucorrhinia hudsonica |
Mammals
Bat, Big Brown |
Eptesicus fuscus |
Bat, Eastern Red |
Lasiurus borealis |
Bat, Northern Hoary |
Lasiurus cinereus |
Bat, Silver-haired |
Lasionycteris noctivagans |
Dolphin, Bottlenose |
Tursiops truncatus |
Mouse, Meadow Jumping |
Zapus hudsonius |
Porpoise, Harbor |
Phocoena phocoena |
Fish
Darter, Shield |
Percina peltata |
Lamprey, American Brook |
Lethenteron appendix |
Shiner, Comely |
Notropis amoenus |
Sucker, Northern Hog |
Hypentelium nigricans |
Sunfish, Blackbanded |
Enneacanthus chaetodon |
Sunfish, Mud |
Acantharchus pomotis |
Undetermined-Unknown Wildlife Species
Birds
Junco, Dark-eyed BR |
Junco hyemalis BR |
Owl, Northern Saw-whet BR |
Aegolius acadicus BR |
Rail, King NB |
Rallus elegans NB |
Redpoll, Common NB |
Acanthis flammea NB |
Sparrow, White-throated BR |
Zonotrichia albicollis BR |
Storm-petrel, Leach’s NB |
Hydrobates leucorhous NB |
Warbler, Yellow-rumped BR |
Setophaga coronata BR |
BR – Breeding population only; NB – non-breeding population only |
Reptiles
Turtle, Eastern Mud |
Kinosternon s. subrubrum |
Turtle, Northern Map |
Graptemys geographica |
Amphibians
Frog, Mid-Atlantic Coast Leopard | Lithobates kauffeldi |
Salamander, Allegheny Mountain Dusky | Desmognathus ochrophaeus |
Treefrog, Barking |
Dryophtyes gratiosus |
Treefrog, Green |
Dryophytes cinereus |
Invertebrates
Azure, Appalachian (butterfly) | Celastrina neglectamajor |
Crawfish, Devil |
Lacunicambarus diogenes |
Fritillary, Aphrodite (butterfly) |
Argynnis aphrodite |
Shrimp, Spinytail Fairy |
Streptocephalus sealii |
Shrimp, Springtime Fairy |
Eubranchipus vernalis |
Mammals
Dolphin, Striped |
Stenella coeruleoalba |
Lemming, Southern Bog |
Synaptomys cooperi |
Mole, Hairy-tailed |
Parascalops breweri |
Mouse, Woodland Jumping |
Napaeozapus insignis |
Rat, Marsh Rice |
Oryzomys palustris |
Shrew, Eastern Pygmy |
Sorex hoyi |
Shrew, Eastern Water |
Sorex albibarbis |
Shrew, Long-tailed |
Sorex dispar |
Shrew, North American Least |
Cryptotis parva |
Shrew, Smoky |
Sorex fumeus |
Shrew, Tuckahoe Masked |
Sorex cinereus nigriculus |
Squirrel, Northern Flying |
Glaucomys sabrinus |
Whale, Common Minke |
Balaenoptera acutorostrata |
Whale, Short-finned Pilot |
Globicephala macrorhynchus |
The lists of New Jersey’s endangered and nongame wildlife species are maintained by the NJDEP Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP). These lists are used to determine protection and management actions necessary to ensure the survival of our state’s endangered and nongame wildlife.
Much of the ENSP’s conservation work is made possible through voluntary contributions received through Check-off donations to the Endangered Wildlife Conservation Fund on the State Income Tax Form, the sale of Conserve Wildlife License Plates, and donations. For more information about the Endangered and Nongame Species Program or to report a sighting of endangered or threatened wildlife, contact the Endangered and Nongame Species, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Mail Code 501-03, PO Box 420, Trenton, NJ 08625-0420.