Wisconsin Conservation Groups Worry About Changes to Endangered Species Act

Tuesday, May 6th, 2025 -- 11:01 AM

(Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) Conservation and environmental groups are worried the current administration’s proposal to redefine harm under the Endangered Species Act may severely limit habitat protections for species in Wisconsin, according to Danielle Kaeding with the Wisconsin Public Radio.

Although, some experts say the changes, if passed, may be minor in Wisconsin due to other protections and a limited number of federally listed species. Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service said in a proposed rule that habitat destruction shouldn’t qualify as harm.

Federal agencies say it’s not in line with the historical understanding of “take” under the law as a means to kill or directly harm species. Habitat loss is considered the greatest stressor on endangered species.

Wisconsin has 25 species that are listed as federally threatened or endangered, including the northern long-eared bat, piping plover and the Karner blue butterfly.

Paul Mathewson, science program director at Clean Wisconsin, said it’s common sense that species will struggle if their shelter is taken away. “It’s obviously going to make it harder to protect them when you can’t use habitat as a key lever for providing protections for them,” Mathewson said.

Rich Beilfuss, president and CEO of the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, noted there were only about 21 whooping cranes in North America about 80 years ago.

Since they were listed as federally endangered, their numbers have grown to about 800 birds. That includes about 70 cranes in the eastern migratory population that breed in Wisconsin and winter in the southern U.S.

However, Beilfuss said their recovery could be placed at risk if habitat for the migratory birds faces increased risk of development under the rule. “Stripping away protections and making it easier to develop habitat or to harm the birds, that’s not the solution that we need,” Beilfuss said.

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