Black footed ferret release

Conservation in Colorado

Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Commerce Department’s National Marine Fisheries Service, it aims to protect and recover at-risk species and the habitats they rely upon. ​ The primary goal of the Endangered Species Act is to make species' populations healthy and vital so they can be delisted from the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service actively invest time and resources to bring endangered or threatened species back from the brink of extinction. The act legally protects these species through various methods, like regulations and restrictions on land use or hunting activities. 

What are Threatened and Endangered Wildlife?

Grey Wolf, Stock Image
Endangered Wildlife

Endangered wildlife are species that are likely to become extinct throughout all or a large portion of their range.

Burrowing Owl
Threatened Wildlife

Threatened wildlife are species that are likely to become endangered in the near future.

Peregrine falcon, Public Domain
Critical Habitat

Critical habitats are vital to the survival of endangered or threatened species.

How does Colorado Parks and Wildlife keep species off the list?

The federal government partners with states and private landowners to develop and implement plans for the over 2,000 species now included on the list.

mountain

State Parks Stewardship Program

The State Parks Stewardship Program is one area dedicated to preserving the crucial habitat that these animals call home. Colorado Parks and Wildlife strives to take proactive measures to keep species populations healthy enough not to need this legal protection.

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partner

Partnerships

Colorado Parks and Wildlife works closely with private landowners, county governments, non-governmental organizations (non-profits) and others to protect and improve habitat, conduct research and work collaboratively to promote species productivity.

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Threatened and Endangered List

    Boreal Toad

    Boreal Toad

    State Endangered

    couch's spadefoot

    Couch's Spadefoot

    State Special Concern

    Western Narrow-Mouthed Toad, William L. Farr, CC BY-SA

    Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad

    State Special Concern

    Northern Cricket Frog, Christina Butler

    Northern Cricket Frog

    State Special Concern

    Northern Leopard Frog, Jessica Bolser, FWS

    Northern Leopard Frog

    State Special Concern

    Plains Leopard Frog, Don F Becker, CC BY-SA

    Plains Leopard Frog

    State Special Concern

    Wood Frog, NPS

    Wood Frog

    State Special Concern

    Boreal Toad

    Boreal Toad

    State Endangered

    couch's spadefoot

    Couch's Spadefoot

    State Special Concern

    Western Narrow-Mouthed Toad, William L. Farr, CC BY-SA

    Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad

    State Special Concern

    Northern Cricket Frog, Christina Butler

    Northern Cricket Frog

    State Special Concern

    Northern Leopard Frog, Jessica Bolser, FWS

    Northern Leopard Frog

    State Special Concern

    Plains Leopard Frog, Don F Becker, CC BY-SA

    Plains Leopard Frog

    State Special Concern

    Wood Frog, NPS

    Wood Frog

    State Special Concern

    Peregrine falcon, Public Domain

    ​American Peregrine Falcon

    State Special Concern

    Bald Eagle, Schendel

    ​Bald Eagle

    State Special Concern

    Burrowing owl, USFWS, Public Domain

    Burrowing Owl

    State Threatened

    Sharp-tailed grouse, Brett Billings, USFWS

    ​Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse

    State Special Concern

    No image

    ​Ferruginous Hawk

    State Special Concern

    Greater Sage Grouse, Wayne D. Lewis

    ​Greater Sage Grouse

    State Special Concern

    Sandhill Crane, Wayne D. Lewis

    ​Greater Sandhill Crane

    State Special Concern

    Gunnison sage-grouse pair, Gary Kramer, USFWS, Public Domain

    ​Gunnison Sage-Grouse

    Federally Threatened and State Special Concern

    Least tern, Steve Hillebrand, FWS

    Least Tern

    State Endangered

    Lesser Prairie-Chicken, USFWS

    Lesser Prairie-Chicken

    Federally Threatened and State Threatened

    ​Long-Billed Curlew

    ​Long-Billed Curlew

    State Special Concern

    Mexican Spotted Owl, NPS

    Mexican Spotted Owl

    Federally Threatened and State Threatened

    Mountain Plover, Alan Schmierer, Public Domain

    Mountain Plover

    State Special Concern

    Sharp-tailed grouse, Brett Billings, USFWS

    Plains Sharp-Tailed Grouse

    State Endangered

    Piping plover, Gene Nieminen, FWS

    Piping Plover

    Federally Threatened and State Threatened

    Southwestern willow flycatcher, FWS, Public Domain

    ​Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Western Snowy Plover

    Western Snowy Plover

    State Special Concern

    Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren, CC BY

    Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

    State Special Concern and Federally Threatened

    Whooping Cranes, Ryan Hagerty, USFWS, Public Domain

    Whooping Crane

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Peregrine falcon, Public Domain

    ​American Peregrine Falcon

    State Special Concern

    Bald Eagle, Schendel

    ​Bald Eagle

    State Special Concern

    Burrowing owl, USFWS, Public Domain

    Burrowing Owl

    State Threatened

    Sharp-tailed grouse, Brett Billings, USFWS

    ​Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse

    State Special Concern

    No image

    ​Ferruginous Hawk

    State Special Concern

    Greater Sage Grouse, Wayne D. Lewis

    ​Greater Sage Grouse

    State Special Concern

    Sandhill Crane, Wayne D. Lewis

    ​Greater Sandhill Crane

    State Special Concern

    Gunnison sage-grouse pair, Gary Kramer, USFWS, Public Domain

    ​Gunnison Sage-Grouse

    Federally Threatened and State Special Concern

    Least tern, Steve Hillebrand, FWS

    Least Tern

    State Endangered

    Lesser Prairie-Chicken, USFWS

    Lesser Prairie-Chicken

    Federally Threatened and State Threatened

    ​Long-Billed Curlew

    ​Long-Billed Curlew

    State Special Concern

    Mexican Spotted Owl, NPS

    Mexican Spotted Owl

    Federally Threatened and State Threatened

    Mountain Plover, Alan Schmierer, Public Domain

    Mountain Plover

    State Special Concern

    Sharp-tailed grouse, Brett Billings, USFWS

    Plains Sharp-Tailed Grouse

    State Endangered

    Piping plover, Gene Nieminen, FWS

    Piping Plover

    Federally Threatened and State Threatened

    Southwestern willow flycatcher, FWS, Public Domain

    ​Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Western Snowy Plover

    Western Snowy Plover

    State Special Concern

    Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren, CC BY

    Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

    State Special Concern and Federally Threatened

    Whooping Cranes, Ryan Hagerty, USFWS, Public Domain

    Whooping Crane

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    ​Arkansas Darter

    ​Arkansas Darter

    State Threatened

    Bonytail

    Bonytail

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Brassy Minnow

    Brassy Minnow

    State Threatened

    ​Colorado Pikeminnow

    ​Colorado Pikeminnow

    Federally Endangered and State Threatened

    Colorado River Cutthroat Trout

    Colorado River Cutthroat Trout

    State Special Concern

    Colorado Roundtail Chub

    Colorado Roundtail Chub

    State Special Concern

    ​​Common Shiner

    ​​Common Shiner

    State Threatened

    ​Flathead Chub

    ​Flathead Chub

    State Special Concern

    Greenback Cutthroat Trout

    Greenback Cutthroat Trout

    Federally Threatened and State Threatened

    Humpback Chub

    Humpback Chub

    Federally Endangered and State Threatened

    Iowa Darter

    Iowa Darter

    State Special Concern

    No image

    Lake Chub

    State Endangered

    Image coming soon!

    Mountain Sucker

    State Special Concern

    Image coming soon!

    Northern Redbelly Dace

    State Endangered

    Image coming soon!

    Plains Minnow

    State Endangered

    Plains Orangethroat Darter

    Plains Orangethroat Darter

    State Special Concern

    Image coming soon!

    ​Rio Grande Chub

    State Special Concern

    ​Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

    ​Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

    State Special Concern

    Image coming soon!

    Rio Grande Sucker

    State Endangered

    ​Razorback Sucker

    ​Razorback Sucker

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Southern Redbelly Dace

    Southern Redbelly Dace

    State Endangered

    Stonecat

    Stonecat

    State Special Concern

    Suckermouth Minnow

    Suckermouth Minnow

    State Endangered

    ​Arkansas Darter

    ​Arkansas Darter

    State Threatened

    Bonytail

    Bonytail

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Brassy Minnow

    Brassy Minnow

    State Threatened

    ​Colorado Pikeminnow

    ​Colorado Pikeminnow

    Federally Endangered and State Threatened

    Colorado River Cutthroat Trout

    Colorado River Cutthroat Trout

    State Special Concern

    Colorado Roundtail Chub

    Colorado Roundtail Chub

    State Special Concern

    ​​Common Shiner

    ​​Common Shiner

    State Threatened

    ​Flathead Chub

    ​Flathead Chub

    State Special Concern

    Greenback Cutthroat Trout

    Greenback Cutthroat Trout

    Federally Threatened and State Threatened

    Humpback Chub

    Humpback Chub

    Federally Endangered and State Threatened

    Iowa Darter

    Iowa Darter

    State Special Concern

    No image

    Lake Chub

    State Endangered

    Image coming soon!

    Mountain Sucker

    State Special Concern

    Image coming soon!

    Northern Redbelly Dace

    State Endangered

    Image coming soon!

    Plains Minnow

    State Endangered

    Plains Orangethroat Darter

    Plains Orangethroat Darter

    State Special Concern

    Image coming soon!

    ​Rio Grande Chub

    State Special Concern

    ​Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

    ​Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

    State Special Concern

    Image coming soon!

    Rio Grande Sucker

    State Endangered

    ​Razorback Sucker

    ​Razorback Sucker

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Southern Redbelly Dace

    Southern Redbelly Dace

    State Endangered

    Stonecat

    Stonecat

    State Special Concern

    Suckermouth Minnow

    Suckermouth Minnow

    State Endangered

    Black Footed Ferret, CPW

    ​Black-Footed Ferret

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Prairie Dog, Wayne D. Lewis

    ​Black-Tailed Prairie Dog

    State Special Concern

    Pocket gopher, NPS

    ​Botta's Pocket Gopher

    State Special Concern

    Gray Wolf, Stock Image

    Gray Wolf

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Grizzly Bear, Kevyn Jalone, NPS

    Grizzly Bear

    Federally Threatened and State Endangered

    Grizzly Bear, Kevyn Jalone, NPS

    ​Kit Fox

    State Endangered

    Lynx, Lisa Hupp, USFWS

    ​Lynx

    Federally Threatened and State Endangered

    ​Northern Pocket Gopher, NPS

    ​Northern Pocket Gopher

    State Special Concern

    Prebels Jumping Mouse, FWS

    Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse

    Federally Threatened and State Threatened

    River Otter, Wayne D. Lewis

    River Otter

    State Threatened

    Swift fox, Greg Schroeder, NPS

    ​Swift fox

    State Special Concern

    Townsends big-eared bat, NPS

    ​Townsend's Big-Eared Bat

    State Special Concern

    Wolverine, NPS, Public Domain

    Wolverine

    State Endangered

    Black Footed Ferret, CPW

    ​Black-Footed Ferret

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Prairie Dog, Wayne D. Lewis

    ​Black-Tailed Prairie Dog

    State Special Concern

    Pocket gopher, NPS

    ​Botta's Pocket Gopher

    State Special Concern

    Gray Wolf, Stock Image

    Gray Wolf

    Federally Endangered and State Endangered

    Grizzly Bear, Kevyn Jalone, NPS

    Grizzly Bear

    Federally Threatened and State Endangered

    Grizzly Bear, Kevyn Jalone, NPS

    ​Kit Fox

    State Endangered

    Lynx, Lisa Hupp, USFWS

    ​Lynx

    Federally Threatened and State Endangered

    ​Northern Pocket Gopher, NPS

    ​Northern Pocket Gopher

    State Special Concern

    Prebels Jumping Mouse, FWS

    Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse

    Federally Threatened and State Threatened

    River Otter, Wayne D. Lewis

    River Otter

    State Threatened

    Swift fox, Greg Schroeder, NPS

    ​Swift fox

    State Special Concern

    Townsends big-eared bat, NPS

    ​Townsend's Big-Eared Bat

    State Special Concern

    Wolverine, NPS, Public Domain

    Wolverine

    State Endangered

    Image coming soon!

    Rocky Mountain Capshell

    State Special Concern

    Image coming soon!

    Cylindrical Papershell

    State Special Concern

    Image coming soon!

    Rocky Mountain Capshell

    State Special Concern

    Image coming soon!

    Cylindrical Papershell

    State Special Concern

    Common Garter Snake

    Common Garter Snake

    State Special Concern

    Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

    Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

    State Special Concern

    Massasauga Rattlesnake

    Massasauga Rattlesnake

    State Special Concern

    Faded Midget Rattlesnake NPS Dinosaur National Monument

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Western Rattlesnake)

    State Special Concern

    Ornate Box Turtle - Copyright by Aaron Drew FWS

    Ornate Box Turtle

    State Special Concern

    Texas Horned Lizard - Photo by Wayne D. Lewis

    Texas Horned Lizard

    State Special Concern

    Texas Threadsnake - Copyright by LA Dawson CC BY-SA 2.5

    Texas Threadsnake

    State Special Concern

    Yellow Mud Turtle - Copyright Gary Nafis

    Yellow Mud Turtle

    State Special Concern

    Common Garter Snake

    Common Garter Snake

    State Special Concern

    Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

    Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

    State Special Concern

    Massasauga Rattlesnake

    Massasauga Rattlesnake

    State Special Concern

    Faded Midget Rattlesnake NPS Dinosaur National Monument

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Western Rattlesnake)

    State Special Concern

    Ornate Box Turtle - Copyright by Aaron Drew FWS

    Ornate Box Turtle

    State Special Concern

    Texas Horned Lizard - Photo by Wayne D. Lewis

    Texas Horned Lizard

    State Special Concern

    Texas Threadsnake - Copyright by LA Dawson CC BY-SA 2.5

    Texas Threadsnake

    State Special Concern

    Yellow Mud Turtle - Copyright Gary Nafis

    Yellow Mud Turtle

    State Special Concern

    John W Mumma Fish Hatchery

    Our Work

    Protecting and Restoring

     Threatened and Endangered Fish

    ​​​​​​​​​​​​The J. W. Mumma Native A​quatic Species Restoration Facility is dedicated to protecting and restoring threatened and endangered aquatic species native to Colorado. The fa​cility, located near Alamosa, currently raises 12 species of threatened and endangered fish, including the federally endangered bonytail chu​b and other state species of concern.  The facility also rais​es the endangered b​​oreal toad. The facility is the only hatchery of its kind in North America! 

    • 16 different fish species have been protected by the facility
    • 2.1 million fish stocked in rivers, streams and lakes throughout Colorado