At the end of October, Michigan concluded the seventh update in half a century of its list of threatened and endangered plant and animal species. It now contains 407 entries: 58 species were added and 36 were removed. Among the latter is the trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator), whose population has grown noticeably thanks to many years of restoration efforts.
Jennifer Kleitch, an endangered species specialist at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, noted that collaborative work by various organizations makes it possible to bring rare species back. Trumpeter swans had all but disappeared from the state, but decades of reintroduction and protection have borne fruit. Their numbers are now estimated at several thousand individuals, although federal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act remains in place.
At the same time, new vulnerable species were added to the list. Three bat species — the little brown bat, the northern long-eared bat and the tricolored bat — were classified as threatened due to sharp population declines caused by white-nose syndrome. Two bumblebee species — the rusty-patched bumblebee and the American bumblebee — were placed in the endangered category because of the general decline of pollinators.
Such changes reflect not only individual successes but also systemic problems in ecosystems. According to Kleitch, rare species often serve as indicators of the condition of natural areas on which clean water, air and opportunities for people's recreation depend. When familiar inhabitants disappear, it is a signal of disruptions in the functioning of entire landscapes.
The public can contribute: planting native flowers for pollinators, supporting protected lands or simply learning about the needs of rare plants and animals. Full lists and recommendations are available on the Michigan Natural Features Inventory website.
The update of the list shows that targeted conservation can yield tangible results, yet new threats require constant attention and joint action.
