Threatened and Endangered Species Program

Protecting and recovering rare and endangered species and the ecosystems that sustain them.

 

Chicago Metro Area Species

 

Animals

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - Recovered and DeListed

 

Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) - Endangered

 

Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) - Threatened

 

Hine's emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana) - Endangered and Designated Critical Habitat

 

Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) - Endangered

 

Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) - Candidate

 

Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) - Endangered and Designated Critical Habitat

 

 

Plants

Eastern prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera leucophaea) - Threatened

 

Lakeside daisy (Hymenoxys acaulis var. glabra) - Threatened

 

Leafy prairie clover (Dalea foliosa) - Endangered

 

Mead's milkweed (Asclepias meadii) - Threatened

 

Prairie bush clover (Lespideza leptostachya) - Threatened

 

Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcherii) - Threatened

 

Critical Habitat in Chicago

 

Hine's Emerald Dragonfly (2-page PDF)

 

Piping Plover

 

 

 

NOTE: We do not have jurisdiction over state-listed species. For information on species listed as threatened or endangered by the state of Illinois, please visit the Endangered Species Protection Board and Natural Heritage pages on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' website.

 

Ten federally listed endangered, threatened, or candidate species occur, or have historically occurred in Northeastern Illinois. Critical habitat has been designated for the piping plover and Hine's emerald dragonfly in our area.

Urbanization and associated land uses, invasive species, and other disturbances have caused habitat loss and contributed to population declines of many species of plants and animals in northeastern Illinois.

Project Reviews and Section 7 Consultation Guidance

 

Endangered Species Guidance Documents

 

Section 7 Consultation Process Explained

Step-by-Step S7 Consultation Guide

 

For more information on federally threatened or endangered species in the Chicago area, contact Kris Lah, our endangered species coordinator.

For information about the Service's endangered species program in the upper Midwest visit www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered or for information on endangered species nationwide, visit the Service's Endangered Species Program.

Permits and Habitat Conservation Plans

Permits can be issued to "take" listed species.

 

Types of permits and how to apply

 

Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) in the Upper Midwest

 

National HCP website

Information about the Endangered Species Act

• Endangered Species Act

 

• Overview of the Endangered Species Act

 

• History of the Endangered Species Act

More Information about Endangered Species in Illinois

Threatened, Endangered, Proposed and Candidate Species in Illinois

Illinois Counties and the listed species found there

USFWS Midwest Endangered Species

Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Endangered Species Protection Board

Chicago Field Office Endangered Species Responsibillities

We work with other federal agencies, state and local agencies in the development of projects to minimize and avoid impacts to listed species or designated critical habitat occurring in our area. We are the lead Service office coordinating the recovery activities for the following species:

• Hine's emerald dragonfly

 

• Eastern prairie fringed orchid

 

• Mead's Milkweed

 

We assist agencies and the public by alerting them to the potential presence of federally-listed threatened or endangered species. The Chicago Illinois Field Office annually responds to hundreds of requests for information on the presence of threatened or endangered species. We do this by looking for records of species near or on a proposed project site, and by assessing whether suitable habitat may be on a project site. We also assess indirect effects by considering the total scope of a proposed project. For more information on endangered species consultation, please see our Endangered Species Guidance Documents and the Service's Midwest Region's S7 Technical Assistance Website.

Chicago Field Office Home

USFWS Endangered Species Program in the Midwest