Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species in Connecticut

Image of a bog turtle, long-eared owl, and grasshopper sparrow.

The Connecticut Endangered Species Act, passed in 1989, recognizes the importance of our state’s plant and animal populations and the need to protect them from threats that could lead to their extinction. The overall goal of the legislation is to conserve, protect, restore and enhance any endangered or threatened species and their essential habitat. Species are listed according to their level of risk, and their status is reviewed every five years.

"Endangered Species" means any native species documented by biological research and inventory to be in danger of extirpation throughout all or a significant portion of its range within the state and to have no more than five occurrences in the state, and any species determined to be an "endangered species" pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act.

"Threatened Species" means any native species documented by biological research and inventory to be likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range within the sate and to have no more than nine occurrences in the state, and any species determined to be a "threatened species" pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act, except for such species determined to be endangered by the Commissioner in accordance with section 4 of this act.

"Species of Special Concern" means any native plant species or any native non-harvested wildlife species documented by scientific research and inventory to have a naturally restricted range or habitat in the state, to be at a low population level, to be in such high demand by man that its unregulated taking would be detrimental to the conservation of its population or has been extirpated from the state.

Proposed changes 2026

Comments accepted through June 30, 2026

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is required to review the designation of species as endangered, threatened, or of special concern to determine whether species should be added or removed from Connecticut’s List of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species, or, if necessary, change the designation from one category to another. DEEP has completed the latest review and is providing a summary of the proposed changes to the State Endangered Species List (DEEP Regulations Sections 26-306-4, 26-306-5, and 26-306-6).

The proposed changes have been compiled and entered into Connecticut eRegulations system.
DEEP is soliciting public comments through June 30, 2026; comments may be submitted by selecting the “Comment Now” button on the eRegulation webpage for this proposal.
A public hearing will be held on June 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., through Zoom. (Register for the meeting.)
This information is also included in the Notice of Intent.