PORTLAND (AP) — A draft of a legislation that would add several new species to Maine’s threatened and endangered animals list will likely go to state lawmakers in December.
State environmental officials might add the little brown bat and northern long-eared bat to the endangered list after white nose syndrome hurt populations. The eastern small-footed bat also faces threatened status. The black-crowned night heron and great cormorant may be upgraded to “endangered.” The cobblestone tiger beetle, Frigga fritillary butterfly and six-whorl vertigo snail could also be added to the endangered list.
A state Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife spokesman says the draft will go to the Legislative Council for finalization. It will then go to committee and face a public hearing.
There are 45 species on the state’s threatened and endangered lists.
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