Endangered Animals in New York: What the Law Says and How Species Are Protected

New York is home to an extraordinary range of wildlife — but dozens of species are hanging on by a thread. From amphibians to insects, fish, birds, mollusks, and mammals, there are 45 endangered species in New York, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). That number doesn’t include the threatened species and species of special concern that are also at risk.

If you live, work, or spend time outdoors in New York, understanding how these animals are classified and what the law requires of you isn’t optional — it’s essential. The rules governing endangered animals in New York operate on two levels: state and federal. Knowing the difference, and knowing which species are covered, can protect both wildlife and you from serious legal consequences.

This article walks you through the listing process, the species you’re most likely to encounter, the legal restrictions that apply to everyone, and what to do if you spot one of these animals in the wild.

How Endangered Species Are Listed and Protected in New York

The DEC’s Endangered Species Program focuses on the most sensitive elements in the system. It is designed to find and correct fish and wildlife problems before certain species are gone forever. But before a species can receive that protection, it must go through a formal listing process.

Only species native to New York and existing in the wild within the state with some regularity during a portion of its annual life cycle will be considered for listing by the department as endangered or threatened. Species that are exotic, or were deliberately or accidentally introduced into New York, the United States, or North America by humans, or are vagrant or an accidental visitor will not be considered for listing.

New York uses three primary classification tiers for animals at risk:

• Endangered — Any native species in imminent danger of extirpation or extinction in New York State.
• Threatened — Any native species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future in New York State.
• Special Concern — Any native species for which a welfare concern or risk of endangerment has been documented in New York State.

There is also a distinction between species that are extinct and those that are extirpated. Extinct means the species is no longer living or existing. Extirpated means the species is not extinct, but no longer occurring in a wild state within New York, or no longer exhibiting patterns of use traditional for that species in New York, such as historical breeders no longer breeding here.

Starting in 2024, the DEC began the process of proposing updates to the New York State List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Fish & Wildlife Species. This process is being done incrementally by species group. Subsequent rules will be proposed to evaluate and address changes to listed invertebrates, marine species, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds.

Key Insight: The most recent change to the NYS list of endangered species, with a focus on freshwater fish, the Atlantic Coast leopard frog, and inclusion of federally listed species, was adopted effective April 9, 2025.

Animals and plants listed under New York State regulations as Endangered, Threatened, Special Concern, and Rare are protected under New York State law. The governing regulations are found in 6 NYCRR Part 182, which outlines listing criteria, prohibited actions, permit requirements, and enforcement provisions.

Federally Listed vs. State-Listed Endangered Animals in New York

One of the most important distinctions to understand is that a species can be protected at the state level, the federal level, or both — and the rules that apply to you depend on which list a species appears on.

The federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 provides for the identification, listing, and protection of both threatened and endangered species and their habitats. This law applies across the entire United States and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and, for marine species, the National Marine Fisheries Service.

NY Natural Heritage tracks all animal species and most plant species listed as Endangered and Threatened under New York State Environmental Conservation Law (E.C.L.) §11-0535. The DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Marine Resources have jurisdiction over listed animals, and the Division of Lands and Forests has jurisdiction over plants.

Some of these plant and animal species are listed under the US Endangered Species Act as well. When a species carries both state and federal protection, the stricter set of rules applies — meaning you could face consequences under both New York law and federal law for the same act.

A species can also be state-listed as endangered while carrying a different federal status. For example, the Piping Plover is listed as federally endangered in the Great Lakes Region, and as federally threatened in the Atlantic Coastal Region. At the state level, piping plovers are considered an endangered species in New York State.

Important Note: If you’re planning any construction, land clearing, or development activity, check both the state and federal lists. A species not on the state list may still be federally protected — and vice versa.

Notable Endangered Animals Found in New York

New York’s geography — stretching from the Atlantic coastline to the Adirondack Mountains and the Great Lakes — supports a wide variety of habitats. That diversity also means a wide variety of at-risk species. Here are some of the most significant endangered animals you may encounter across the state.

Piping Plover

These small, lightly colored shorebirds can be found on Rockaway Beach in Queens. Piping plovers generally begin arriving in New York City in mid-March, some from as far south as South Carolina and the Bahamas, to nest for the summer before migrating south in August. Their largest threats are predation, habitat damage and destruction, coastal development, and human disturbance.

Eastern Tiger Salamander

This amphibian spends the majority of its life in its burrow underground, but comes out at night to breed in ponds. In New York State, the Eastern Tiger Salamander is found exclusively on Long Island, mostly within the central Pine Barrens. Its highly restricted range makes it especially vulnerable to habitat loss from development.

Eastern Mud Turtle

This semi-aquatic turtle can be found in marshes, small ponds, wet ditches, fields, and offshore islands. When its habitat dries up, it travels on land to another body of water. This short journey could land this turtle in trouble — turtles are very often killed by cars when attempting to cross roads. Other threats to the Eastern Mud Turtle include habitat loss due to the draining of wetlands for urban and industrial development, land clearing, habitat fragmentation from road construction, and the illegal pet trade.

Indiana Bat and Northern Long-Eared Bat

Learn about at-risk bats, including the Little Brown Bat and Northern Long-eared Bat. Both the Indiana bat and Northern Long-eared bat are listed under the federal ESA and are present in New York. They face serious threats from white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has devastated bat populations across the northeastern United States. If you find a bat roosting in a structure, do not disturb it without first consulting the DEC, as it may be a protected species.

Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog

One of the species recently added to the list was the Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog. The Atlantic Coast leopard frog was only recently discovered in 2012 and described as a new species from a site on Staten Island, New York City, in 2014. Despite being newly identified, this cryptic species is already at risk of extinction in parts of its range, including New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

Karner Blue Butterfly

Among the 45 endangered species in New York are the Karner Blue Butterfly, the Eskimo Curlew, and the American Burying Beetle. The Karner Blue Butterfly depends entirely on wild blue lupine for its larval stage and is found primarily in the Albany Pine Bush and a few other sand plain habitats. It is listed as federally endangered and is one of the most well-known endangered insects in the state. You can also read about extinct animals to understand how species loss unfolds over time.

Pro Tip: The NY Natural Heritage Program maintains detailed conservation guides for many listed species, including habitat maps and identification information — a valuable resource before conducting any fieldwork or land development near natural areas.

What You Cannot Do Around Endangered Animals in New York

New York law is explicit about what is prohibited when it comes to endangered and threatened species. Under ECL § 11-0535, the taking, importation, transportation, possession, or sale of any endangered or threatened species of fish, shellfish, crustacea, or wildlife, or hides or other parts thereof, or the sale or possession with intent to sell any article made in whole or in part from the skin, hide, or other parts of any endangered or threatened species of fish, shellfish, crustacea, or wildlife is prohibited, except under license or permit from the department.

The term “taking” is broader than most people realize. Essential behavior means any of the behaviors exhibited by a species listed as endangered or threatened that are part of its normal or traditional life cycle and essential to its survival and perpetuation. Essential behavior includes behaviors associated with breeding, hibernation, reproduction, feeding, sheltering, migration, and overwintering. Disrupting any of these behaviors — even unintentionally — can constitute a violation.

Here is a summary of specifically prohibited actions under New York’s endangered species regulations:

• Killing, harming, harassing, or pursuing a listed species
• Trapping, capturing, or collecting a listed species without a permit
• Possessing, transporting, or selling a listed species or any of its parts
• Destroying, modifying, or degrading the habitat of a listed species in ways that impair essential behaviors
• Importing listed species into New York without authorization

Common Mistake: Many people assume that “not touching” an animal is enough. But disturbing a nesting area, blocking a migration corridor, or even repeated foot traffic near a known habitat can qualify as “take” under state and federal law.

At the federal level, taking a species generally includes causing any harm to a federally protected animal or plant species. Any individual who knowingly takes a listed species can be fined up to $25,000 by the federal government for each violation or instance. For context on how wildlife protection connects to broader animal welfare topics, see venomous animals in New York and how different species interact within the state’s ecosystems.

Endangered Species on Private Land in New York

One of the most misunderstood aspects of endangered species law is that it does not stop at the property line. If an endangered or threatened species uses your land — even temporarily — you may have legal obligations.

That said, New York’s regulations do provide some exemptions for landowners. The regulations exempt existing, routine, and ongoing agricultural activities from the incidental take permit requirement because the habitat types created by those activities are generally not used by endangered or threatened species, are frequently transitory in nature, and are rapidly replaced in the landscape. The existing agricultural activity exemption applies as long as the activity occurred within the past five years — for example, a row crop field left fallow for four years can be converted back to row crops without a permit.

However, these exemptions have clear limits. Exemptions apply only to incidental take, not the intentional harm of listed animals. If you knowingly harm a protected species on your property, no exemption applies.

For landowners facing development decisions, two federal tools are especially important:

1. Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) — Habitat Conservation Plans contain information on the predicted effects of taking a species, how these effects will be minimized or mitigated, and how the plan will be funded. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service attempts to assure property owners that they will not face additional land restrictions beyond those outlined in their Habitat Conservation Plans.
2. Candidate Conservation Agreements — These are made by the Fish and Wildlife Service with non-federal property owners to provide incentives for conserving candidate species so that they are not listed as endangered or threatened.

Forests cover more than 60% of New York’s landscape and, over the long term, conversion of forests for land development activities could potentially affect the survival of protected species in New York. If you own forested land and are considering clearing or development, a jurisdictional determination from the DEC is strongly recommended before proceeding. You can learn more about related conservation concerns by reviewing endangered animals in Virginia and endangered animals in West Virginia for comparison with neighboring state frameworks.

Pro Tip: Before undertaking any land-clearing, construction, or excavation project in New York, request a formal Environmental Review from the NY Natural Heritage Program. This can help you identify whether listed species are known to occur on or near your property — and avoid costly violations.

How to Report an Endangered Animal Sighting in New York

If you spot what you believe is an endangered or threatened species in New York, reporting that sighting is one of the most meaningful contributions you can make to conservation. To continue building a comprehensive, up-to-date database of information on the locations of rare species in New York State, the DEC welcomes contributions. If you have information on a rare animal or plant, you can fill out the Rare Species Reporting Form, which can be opened at the Contribute Data page and submitted electronically to the NY Natural Heritage Program.

Here is a step-by-step approach to reporting a sighting effectively:

1. Document what you see — Note the species (or your best description), the exact location, date, and time. Photographs are extremely helpful but never disturb the animal to get a better photo.
2. Note the habitat — Record whether the animal was in a wetland, forest, beach, field, or near a structure. This context is valuable for conservation tracking.
3. Submit through official channels — Use the NY Natural Heritage Program’s Rare Species Reporting Form available through the DEC website.
4. Contact the DEC directly — For urgent situations, such as an injured protected animal, contact your regional DEC office immediately. Do not attempt to handle or move the animal yourself.
5. Use iNaturalist or eBird — For birds and many other species, community science platforms like iNaturalist feed data into conservation databases used by the state.

More detailed information about some of the rare animals and plants in New York, including biology, identification, habitat, distribution, conservation, and management, is available in NY Natural Heritage’s Conservation Guides, NYSDEC’s Endangered Species fact sheets, and in the USDA’s Plants Database.

Conservation status ranks reflect a species’ relative risk of extirpation from New York based on factors such as its geographic range, population size, number of occurrences, viability, population trends, and threats. Your sighting data can directly influence how a species is ranked and whether it receives increased protection. Compare how other states handle this process by reading about endangered animals in Washington.

Key Insight: You do not need to be a scientist to submit a sighting report. The DEC and NY Natural Heritage Program actively welcome observations from the public, and community-sourced data has been instrumental in confirming the presence of rare species across the state.

Penalties for Harming or Taking an Endangered Animal in New York

The legal consequences for harming or taking an endangered animal in New York can be severe — and they can come from both state and federal authorities simultaneously.

Under New York State law, any person who violates Part 182 or any license, permit, or order issued by the department pursuant to ECL § 11-0535 may be liable for all penalties and other remedies provided for in the Environmental Conservation Law. Such penalties and remedies may be in addition to any other penalty or remedy available under any other law.

At the federal level, penalties under the ESA are equally serious. Taking a species generally includes causing any harm to a federally protected animal or plant species. Any individual who knowingly takes a listed species can be fined up to $25,000 by the federal government for each violation or instance.

Here is an overview of the penalty framework that applies in New York:

It is also worth noting that any false statement on a permit application may subject the applicant to denial, suspension, or revocation of the permit, and to civil and criminal penalties under the laws of the State of New York.

If you’re dealing with a situation where a protected species is on your property or near a planned activity, the safest course is always to consult with the DEC before taking action — not after. Proactive engagement with regulators is far less costly than enforcement proceedings. For broader context on how species protection intersects with land use and wildlife behavior, explore related topics like animals that eat snakes or the ecological role of fast-moving animals in natural food webs.

Important Note: Penalties can stack. A single act — say, destroying a nesting site — can result in simultaneous state and federal violations, meaning fines and legal exposure from two separate enforcement bodies at the same time.

Conclusion

New York’s endangered species are protected by a layered system of state and federal laws that apply to landowners, developers, outdoor enthusiasts, and everyday residents alike. Understanding how species are listed, which animals are currently at risk, and what actions are prohibited is the foundation of responsible coexistence with the state’s wildlife.

The key takeaways are straightforward: know the difference between state and federal listings, never assume private land exempts you from all obligations, report sightings through official channels, and consult the DEC before taking any action that could affect a protected species or its habitat. The legal framework in New York is designed not to punish but to prevent — and your awareness is one of the most effective conservation tools available.

For further reading on wildlife across the region, explore endangered animals in Washington, endangered animals in Virginia, and endangered animals in West Virginia to see how other states approach species protection.