Wis. DNR moves to take species off endangered list

MADISON, Wis. — The state Department of Natural Resources wants to remove more than a dozen birds, animals and plants from Wisconsin’s endangered or threatened species list.

The agency wants to delist the greater redhorse, a small fish; the barn owl; the snowy egret; the Bewick’s Wren; the pygmy snaketail dragonfly; Blanding’s turtle; and Butler’s garter snake.

The rest of the species are plants, including the American fever-few; bog bluegrass; Canada horse-balm; drooping sedge; hemlock parsley; prairie Indian-Plantain; snowy campion; yellow gentian; and the yellow giant hyssop.

DNR officials say the species have responded well to preservation efforts or aren’t as rare as once thought or are no longer present in the state.

The agency plans to seek approval for delisting from the Natural Resources Board early next year.