Meet 9 of Michigan’s endangered species & learn how to help

Learn about some of the hundreds of endangered species in Michigan and discover different ways you can help them.

From the Great Lakes and coastal dunes to deciduous and coniferous forests, grasslands, and wetlands, Michigan’s natural habitats are wide ranging and home to tons of wildlife. But unfortunately, the populations of some animals that call Michigan home are declining — enough for them to be considered endangered. 

In 2023, Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources updated its list of threatened and endangered species. The list now includes more than 400 species of birds, fish, mammals, and more (155 of the entries are endangered).

It’s important to note that just because these animals are endangered, that doesn’t mean they’re destined for extinction. There are actions people can take to help restore declining wildlife populations. 

Keep reading to learn about some of Michigan’s endangered species and discover how you can help them.   

1. Western lesser siren

The western lesser siren is an aquatic salamander with an eel-like body that can grow to be up to 20 inches long. The amphibian thrives in bodies of water with muddy bottoms and plentiful plant life, such as ponds, ditches, swamps, and shallow lakes, and can be found throughout the southern and central United States and northeastern Mexico.

While the western lesser siren isn’t endangered on a national or global level, it is in Michigan. In fact, the species was once thought to be extirpated from Michigan, but it was recently rediscovered, albeit in very limited numbers. 

The western lesser siren population is thought to be declining because of reduced water quality caused by pesticides and fertilizer. To help protect the western lesser siren, the Michigan Natural Features Inventory recommends refraining from using rotenone, a pesticide used to kill fish, in sites that contain sirens. If you accidentally catch a western lesser siren while fishing, be sure to release it unharmed. 

2. American bumble bee

Whether at a backyard barbeque, on the beach, or even during a walk through your neighborhood, you’ve probably encountered an American bumble bee at some point in your life. But just because they seem fairly commonplace doesn’t mean they aren’t at risk of extinction. 

The American bumble bee is considered “vulnerable” on a global scale and was newly listed as endangered in Michigan on the state’s 2023 endangered species list. 

Michigan Natural Features Inventory attributes the population decline to the use of neonicotinoids, a pesticide group highly toxic to bees, on cropland, habitat loss caused by urbanization and agriculture, and pathogen spread from bees used in commercial greenhouses to those in the wild. 

Want to help conserve the American bumble bee population? Incorporate native grasses and hedgerows into your landscape design. This will provide a habitat for small mammals, and when they eventually abandon their home, bees can use the space to nest or hibernate. 

Photo courtesy of Zoshua Colah/Unsplash.

3. Barn owl 

The barn owl, known for its distinctive heart-shaped face, is one of Michigan’s rarest owls, so consider yourself lucky if you happen to see one. Since 2000, there have only been about 13 recorded barn owl observations in Michigan. 

Loss of habitat — specifically open fields, marshes, and grasslands — and agricultural practices have caused a particularly sharp population decline in the Midwest. If you live in the right area and want to help these creatures, consider building a nest box in your yard. 

4. Piping plover

The piping plover calls the shores of the Great Lakes home, though there are significantly fewer of these birds in the region than there used to be. At their peak, about 800 pairs of piping plovers could be found along the shores of the Great Lakes. However, that number plummeted in the years that followed, and in 1986, the species was listed as endangered. 

This shorebird is compact and has sand-colored plumage that helps it blend into its preferred habitat. Speaking of habitat, as is the case with many species on this list, the destruction and loss of habitat is one of the main factors contributing to the piping plover’s shrinking population. Do your part to protect these birds by avoiding riding motorized vehicles or camping on beaches. If you bring a pet, such as a dog, to the beach in an area where piping plovers might be nesting, it’s advised to keep them leashed. 

5. Cougar

Cougars, also called mountain lions, are tan-to-brown cats that typically weigh between 90 to 180 pounds and are, on average, between five to six feet long. Cougars thrive in rural or remote areas where prey, such as deer, and cover are plentiful.  

Cougars were once believed to be extirpated in Michigan, but there have been several confirmed sightings in recent years. Despite these sightings, cougars are still listed as endangered in Michigan. If you want to help the small number of cougars residing in Michigan, there are a few things you can do, including becoming a citizen researcher and reporting signs of cougars to the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy. 

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

6. Lynx

The cougar isn’t the only endangered cat in Michigan. Lynx, a medium-sized cat with silvery-gray fur, is also on the state’s endangered species list.

Lynx prefer to live in lush coniferous forests, and in Michigan, the cats are most commonly found in the Upper Peninsula. Mismanagement of these forests, as well as illegal poaching, are two of the main contributors to the Lynx’s population decline, according to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Protecting the lynx’s natural habitat and maintaining other areas with little human activity are crucial to the survival of this cat. 

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

7. Prairie vole

The prairie vole, a mouse-like rodent, is most commonly found in Midwestern states like Michigan. As their name implies, this small mammal prefers to live in open, grassy areas, such as prairies, pastures, and fallow fields. 

In Michigan, the prairie vole has been a state endangered species for years, and they are thought to only exist in the southwestern region of the Mitten known as the “prairie peninsula.”

To help the prairie vole population thrive, frequent mowing is discouraged, as adequate cover is crucial for their survival. The overuse of pesticides and conversion of the prairie vole’s natural habitat into row crops have also been linked to the species’ declining population. 

8. Deep-throat vertigo

The deep-throat vertigo is a land snail that has a cylindrical shell resembling a beehive. 

According to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, the deep-throat vertigo “is known from only four states in the U. S.” —  Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Maine. Within Michigan, this mollusk has been spotted in four counties in the Upper Peninsula and one county in the Lower Peninsula within the past few decades. Its habitat consists of forested wetlands, and despite being land snails, moisture and water are important for performing physiological processes and reproduction. 

Timber harvesting, land development, road construction, and other activities that can alter the deep-throat vertigo’s habitat should be avoided to conserve the existing population. 

9. River darter

As you might have guessed from its name, the river darter lives in rivers, but it can also be found in larger streams where the water is deep and fast-flowing. This small, olive-colored fish is becoming increasingly rare in Michigan and other states where it was once widely distributed. In Michigan, the river darter is most commonly found on the east side of the state.

Flood control efforts have negatively impacted the river darter population, and in order to conserve the species, it’s recommended that rivers be restored to their natural state. 

Bonus: Eastern massasauga rattlesnake

While the eastern massasauga rattlesnake isn’t endangered in Michigan — it’s listed as threatened — as the state’s sole venomous snake, we felt it was worth mentioning in this post. This snake is native to the Lower Peninsula, can grow to be two to three feet in length, and is typically brownish in color with darker spots. 

A loss of habitat — specifically wetlands — is the main cause of population decline in Michigan. A decrease in the population of small mammals like shrews and mice — a significant part of the snake’s diet — can also impact population levels, which have been declining steadily since the mid-1970s. While it might sound favorable for a venomous snake to die off, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake plays an important role in Michigan’s ecosystem.

Photo courtesy of Peter Paplanus/CC BY 2.0.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.