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First Dakota skipper male reared at the Minnesota Zoo.

Photo courtesy of Erik Runquist/Minnesota Zoo

Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae)

Status: Threatened

The Dakota skipper is a small butterfly that lives in high-quality mixed and tallgrass prairie. It has been extirpated from Illinois and Iowa and now occurs in remnants of native mixed and tallgrass prairie in Minnesota, the Dakotas and southern Canada. The Dakota skipper is listed as threatened under the Endangered species Act and critical habitat has been designated.

Dakota skipper on prairie lily.

Photo by USFWS; Phil Delphey

Dakota Skipper

Status: Threatened with a 4(d) rule; October 23, 2014

Critical Habitat Designated; October 1, 2015

Habitat: High quality tallgrass and mixed grass prairie

Lead Region: 3

Region 3 Lead Office: Twin Cities Field Office

Range: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota

Critical Habitat: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin

About Listing: Listing the Dakota Skipper and Poweshiek Skipperling and Designating Critical Habitat

Guidances

Section 7 Guidance

Conservation Guidelines

Final Critical Habitat Designation

The Endangered Species Act defines critical habitat as an area that contains habitat features that are essential for the survival and recovery of a listed species, which may require special management considerations or protections. Regulation of critical habitat is limited to the requirement that federal agencies consult with the Service on any actions that may affect critical habitat. The Service can then recommend ways to minimize adverse effects to the habitat.

News Release (Sept. 30, 2015)

Dakota Skipper and Poweshiek Skipperling Critical Habitat

Dakota Skipper Natural History and Status:

Dakota Skipper Fact Sheet

Dakota Skipper Species Profile

Dakota Skipper Status Assessment (June 2002) PDF; 84 pages; 600KB

Dakota Skipper Conservation and Management:

Dakota Skipper Conservation Guidelines (revised May 2016)

Dakota Skipper Section 7 Guidance (updated May 2016)

Saving Minnesota's Prairie Butterflies - Minnesota Zoo

Private Stewardship Grant (May 2007): Restore Native Prairie and Oak Savanna Communities In the Little Sioux Watershed in Northwest Iowa – Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, and O’Brien Counties, Iowa

Private Stewardship Grant (2005): Imperiled Species Conservation on Private Land in Western Minnesota (Wilkin, Ottertail, Grant, Pope, Kandiyohi, Big Stone, Yellow Medicine and Lac Qui Parle counties, Minnesota)

Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae)

Status: Threatened

Final Critical Habitat Designation

Dakota Skipper Natural History and Status:

Dakota Skipper Conservation and Management:

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