These 28 NJ Animals Are Now Considered Endangered

NEW JERSEY — State wildlife officials have reclassified 28 species of animals found in the state as endangered or threatened, part of a series of amendments recently adopted into the New Jersey Administrative Code.

The new additions to New Jersey's list of endangered animals include five species of freshwater mussels, six dragonflies, two butterflies, three amphibians, two reptiles and 10 birds.

Animals on the list include the barred owl, wood turtle, Pine Barrens tree frog and northern pine snake.

Before the change, which went into effect on Jan. 6, the animals moved to the endangered list were considered "threatened" but were kept on the state's non-game list. An animal on the non-game list is placed into three categories, including "special concern," "stable-secure," or "undetermined-unknown."

As part of the change, animals on the endangered list are now considered "threatened" or "endangered," a classification that includes the most at-risk species.

Here's a look at the animals affected by the reclassification:

Freshwater Mussels

• Eastern Lampmussel
• Eastern Pondmussel
• Tidewater Mucket
• Triangle Floater
• Yellow Lampmussel

Dragonflies & Damselflies

• Banner Clubtail
• Brook Snaketail
• Harpoon Clubtail
• Kennedy's Emerald
• Robust Baskettail
• Superb Jewelwing

Butterflies

• Checkered White
• Frosted Elfin

Amphibians

• Eastern Long-tailed Salamander
• Eastern Mud Salamander
• Pine Barrens Treefrog

Reptiles

• Northern Pinesnake
• Wood Turtle

Birds

• American Kestrel
• Barred Owl
• Black-Crowned Night Heron
• Bobolink
• Grasshopper Sparrow
• Horned Lark
• Long-Eared Owl
• Red-Headed Woodpecker
• Savannah Sparrow
• Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

The changes included the removal of four animals from the endangered list, including the bald eagle and the osprey. The animals were moved to a list of regulated non-game species after their populations increased.