3 CSR 10- 4.111: Endangered Species

Purpose

This rule extends special protection to endangered wildlife and lists those species considered to be threatened with extinction.

Summary:

PURPOSE: This amendment adds to the state endangered species list two crayfish species found in the St. Francis River watershed and a freshwater mussel species found in the Black, Current, Spring, and St. Francis river watersheds that have undergone significant declines and received federal listing as threatened species.

Title 3 – Department of Conservation
Division 10 – Conservation Commission

Chapter 4 – Wildlife Code: General Provisions

Proposed Amendment

(3) For the purpose of this rule, endangered species of wildlife and plants shall include the following native species designated as endangered in Missouri:

(A) Mammals: gray bat, Ozark big-eared bat, Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat, black-tailed jackrabbit, spotted skunk.

(B) Birds: northern harrier, interior least tern, Swainson’s warbler, snowy egret, king rail, Bachman’s sparrow, American bittern, greater prairie-chicken.

(C) Reptiles: western chicken turtle, Blanding’s turtle, yellow mud turtle, Mississippi green watersnake, eastern massasauga, prairie massasauga.

(D) Amphibians: eastern hellbender, Ozark hellbender.

(E) Fishes: lake sturgeon, pallid sturgeon, taillight shiner, Neosho madtom, spring cavefish, harlequin darter, goldstripe darter, cypress minnow, central mudminnow, crystal darter, swamp darter, Ozark cavefish, Niangua darter, Sabine shiner, mountain madtom, redfin darter, longnose darter, flathead chub, Topeka shiner, grotto sculpin.

(F) Mussels: Curtis pearlymussel, Higgins’ eye, pink mucket, fat pocketbook, ebonyshell, elephant ear, winged mapleleaf, sheepnose, snuffbox, scaleshell, spectaclecase, Neosho mucket, rabbitsfoot, salamander mussel, slippershell mussel, western fanshell.

  (G) Crayfish: Big Creek crayfish, Caney Mountain Cave crayfish, coldwater crayfish, Spring River crayfish, St. Francis River crayfish.

  (H) Other Invertebrates: American burying beetle, Hine’s emerald dragonfly, Tumbling Creek cavesnail.

  (I) Plants: small whorled pogonia, Mead’s milkweed, decurrent false aster, Missouri bladderpod, geocarpon, running buffalo clover, pondberry, eastern prairie fringed orchid, western prairie fringed orchid, Virginia sneezeweed.

AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const. and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Aug. 15, 1973, effective Dec. 31, 1973. For intervening history, please consult the Code of State Regulations. Amended: Filed September 8, 2023, effective February 29, 2024.

PUBLIC COST: This proposed amendment will not cost state agencies or political subdivisions more than five hundred dollars ($500) in the aggregate.

PRIVATE COST: This proposed amendment will not cost private entities more than five hundred dollars ($500) in the aggregate.

NOTICE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS: Anyone may file a statement in support of or in opposition to this proposed amendment with Regulations Committee Chairman, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or via the department’s website at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49. To be considered, comments must be received within thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the Missouri Register. No public hearing is scheduled.

 

 

Official public comment period: October 17, 2023 to November 15, 2023