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Species at Risk

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One element in developing a conservation strategy is identifying and compiling information that is indicative of the diversity and health of the state’s wildlife species, including their low and declining populations. Fish and Game has chosen to use its Special Animals List, which it maintains and updates within the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). This list is also referred to as the list of "species at risk" or "special status species," and it includes vertebrates and invertebrates. The special status species are diverse and inhabit the varied ecosystems across the state. Many of the special status species have been identified as species of special concern due to their low or declining numbers.

The CNDDB program has been inventorying the state’s rare and declining species since 1979. The Special Animals List is updated regularly and currently contains more than 800 taxa.

Species and subspecies are included in the Special Animal List if they fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Officially listed or proposed for listing under the state and/or federal Endangered Species Acts.
• State or federal candidate for possible listing.
• Taxa that meet the criteria for listing, even if not currently included on any list, as described in Section 15380 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.
• Taxa considered by Fish and Game to be a Species of Special Concern (CSC).
• Taxa that are biologically rare, very restricted in distribution, declining throughout their range, or have a critical, vulnerable stage in their life cycle that warrants monitoring.
• Populations in California that may be on the periphery of a taxon’s range but are threatened with extirpation in California.
• Taxa closely associated with a habitat that is declining in California at an alarming rate (e.g., wetlands, riparian, old growth forests, desert aquatic systems, native grasslands, vernal pools, etc.)
• Taxa designated as a special status, sensitive, or declining species by other state or federal agencies or non-governmental organization.

The Species at Risk sections of the regional chapters of the conservation strategy summarize the numbers of species, endemic species, and species at risk associated with the region. Details regarding the special status species are compiled in the Wildlife Species Matrix. The Wildlife Species Matrix lists the species at risk and provides the rarity ranking status, associated habitat, population trends, and range maps.