鈥淎t risk鈥� means there鈥檚 still time to intervene for declining wildlife
By working on declining species early, we have the best chance to help them before they need the regulatory protections of the Endangered Species Act.

As recently as two decades ago, the Chesapeake logperch 鈥� a greenish-gold, zebra-striped fish no longer than a pencil 鈥� wasn鈥檛 considered a species. It was lumped in with the similar-looking but more common logperch. 

But scientists had noticed subtle distinctions: the number of stripes, an orange band on one of the fins. 

鈥淲e always knew they were different,鈥� said Doug Fischer, a fisheries biologist for Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. 

Until 2008, the Chesapeake logperch wasn鈥檛 considered a species. It was lumped in with the common logperch. Confirming it was a species also confirmed it was rare. 

Eventually, genetic testing by a researcher at Yale University confirmed their hunch 鈥� the Chesapeake logperch is one of a kind and found only in the upper Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

Confirming it was a species also confirmed it was rare. It was difficult to find in the Susquehanna River and seemed to be absent entirely from the Potomac. 

The Chesapeake logperch was at risk of disappearing from its namesake watershed. 

All hands on deck

In 2017, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others, began a strategic effort to bring this fish back, starting by developing a range-wide conservation plan for the species. 

Two years later, Pennsylvania and Maryland received a State Wildlife Grant from the Service to work with other partners to implement the plan and boost numbers of the Chesapeake logperch in the lower Susquehanna River and its tributaries, which all drain to Chesapeake Bay.  

The multi-year project has produced results, including a productive captive-rearing program. From 28 Chesapeake logperch captured in the wild in March 2019, nonprofit Conservation Fisheries, Inc., spawned more than 1,500 babies in a matter of weeks 鈥� so many they had to stop because they were running out of space for them. It was the first time anyone had tried to breed the species in captivity. 

Building on propagation techniques developed by Conservation Fisheries, Inc., the Service and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission are captive-rearing Chesapeake logperch to release into the wild.   

Today, the Service鈥檚 Northeast Fishery Center, in Lamar, Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission鈥檚 Aquatic Conservation Center in Union City, Pennsylvania, are also raising Chesapeake logperch in captivity and releasing them into the wild. 

With some help from the partners, wild Chesapeake logperch are also playing a role in reestablishing populations across their historic range. Biologists have captured wild logperch from areas where they are doing well, tagged them, and released them in carefully selected streams where the quality of the water and habitat is high. To date, almost 1,200 of these wild-caught logperch have been rehomed in places where they are likely to thrive.

Every year, biologists survey areas where tagged Chesapeake logperch have been released. Many have been recaptured 鈥� a promising sign for the partners and the species.   

Every year, the team surveys these areas for tagged fish. Many have been recaptured 鈥� a promising sign for the partners and the species. 

What鈥檚 more, they are also finding Chesapeake logperch without tags, suggesting the possibility of natural reproduction 鈥� the ultimate goal in streams where these fish have been long absent. 

Giving species a chance to rebound 

The collaborative effort to help the Chesapeake logperch is just one example of the proactive approach to conservation promoted and supported by the Service鈥檚 Science Applications program, in response to a growing need.   

鈥淗undreds of species of fish, wildlife and plants in the Northeastern U.S. are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act,鈥� said Anthony Tur, the Service鈥檚 at-risk species conservation coordinator in the Northeast. That includes the Chesapeake logperch, which has been petitioned for listing.

But 鈥榓t risk鈥� means there鈥檚 still time. 

鈥淚f we act now, we can give these species a chance to rebound before they need federal protection,鈥� Tur said.

Our proactive conservation approach focuses our resources for the greatest impact.  Take the New England cottontail: Thanks to collaboration with public-private partners to restore habitat for New England鈥檚 only native rabbit, the Service determined in 2015 that the species didn鈥檛 need federal protection. 

This approach not only gives us more time to help species like the Chesapeake logperch but also focuses our expertise, science and resources for the greatest impact鈥痑nd return on investment.鈥�

Our at-risk species effort complements鈥痮ther priorities,鈥痠ncluding listing wildlife under the Endangered Species Act when necessary 鈥� a process鈥痶hat has saved many鈥痵pecies from extinction.  

We think of the at-risk species approach as preventative medicine. If we work with partners to keep these species healthy, we can reduce the likelihood they鈥檒l become endangered. Some plants and animals may still end up in the conservation emergency room 鈥斺€痯rotected by the Endangered Species Act 鈥斺€痺here they can recover with the right actions.   

Starting with the highest priorities

In the Northeast, we used the best available鈥痵cience and input鈥痜rom Service biologists and state wildlife agencies to identify a set of priority at-risk species 鈥� such as Chesapeake logperch 鈥� and species groups 鈥� such as farmland pollinators 鈥� that offer the greatest opportunities for conservation success through proactive efforts.鈥�

The list of priorities will evolve over time as species鈥� statuses change 鈥� those that are doing well will be removed, and new ones that need attention will be added.鈥�

Different species have different needs. For some, like the Chesapeake logperch,鈥痺e know how to help the species rebound. But others are poorly understood and need focused research to resolve unknowns, including鈥痶he extent of their current range. 

Some at-risk species, like the Appalachian grizzled skipper, are poorly understood and need focused research to resolve unknowns 鈥� including鈥痶he extent of their current range. 

For example, the Appalachian grizzled skipper, a small, dusty-brown butterfly with white spots on its wings, was once found in isolated populations from New York to North Carolina, and west to Michigan and Ohio. At many sites where it was documented, this butterfly hasn鈥檛 been seen in more than a decade. 

In 2020, the Service partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey and states to coordinate range-wide surveys to look for the Appalachian grizzled skipper across its historical range and document defining features of its habitat, so we can both assess the species鈥� status and know what it needs to persist.

Conservation in action

The Service is coordinating projects like these for a wide range of fish, wildlife and plants across the Northeast and the rest of the country, working with states, private partners, universities, and others, to support conservation鈥痮n the ground鈥痺here we know it鈥檚 needed,鈥痑nd to gather data when we don鈥檛 yet have enough information to act. 

Are you in interested in collaborating with the Service to implement conservation or fill data gaps for at-risk species? Learn more about the Service鈥檚 at-risk species conservation initiative, including how to get involved. 

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Captive breeding
Fishes
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