| Listed Species in Lowndes
County | ||||
| Species | Federal Status | State Status | Habitat | Threats |
| Bird | ||||
| Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus | T | E | Inland waterways and estuarine areas in Georgia. Active eagle nests were located in Lowndes County 1988-1999 and 2000-2002. | Major factor in initial decline was lowered reproductive success following use of DDT. Current threats include habitat destruction, disturbance at the nest, illegal shooting, electrocution, impact injuries, and lead poisoning. |
| Red-cockaded
woodpecker Picoides borealis | E | E | Nest in mature pine with low understory vegetation (<1.5m); forage in pine and pine hardwood stands > 30 years of age, preferably > 10" dbh | Reduction of older age pine stands and to encroachment of hardwood midstory in older age pine stands due to fire suppression |
| Wood
stork Mycteria americana | E | E | Primarily feed in fresh and brackish wetlands and nest in cypress or other wooded swamps. Active rookeries where located in 2002. | Decline due primarily to loss of suitable feeding habitat, particularly in south Florida. Other factors include loss of nesting habitat, prolonged drought/flooding, raccoon predation on nests, and human disturbance of rookeries. |
| Reptile | ||||
| Alligator snapping turtle Macroclemys temminckii | No Federal Status | T | Rivers, lakes, and large ponds near stream swamps. | Destruction and modification of habitat and overharvesting. |
| Eastern
indigo snake Drymarchon corais couperi | T | T | During winter, den in xeric sandridge habitat preferred by gopher tortoises; during warm months, forage in creek bottoms, upland forests, and agricultural fields | Habitat loss due to uses such as farming, construction, forestry, and pasture and to overcollecting for the pet trade |
| Gopher tortoise
Gopherus polyphemus | No Federal Status | T | Well-drained, sandy soils in forest and grassy areas; associated with pine overstory, open understory with grass and forb groundcover, and sunny areas for nesting | Habitat
loss and conversion to closed canopy forests. Other threats include mortality
on highways and the collection of tortoises for pets. |