State Monitor Species Definition

The Wildlife Diversity Division maintains a State Monitor Species list that includes animal species for which we monitor status and distribution. Little is known about many of these species, but biologists are concerned about their well being.

1. State Monitor Species are those that require management, survey, or data emphasis for one or more of the following reasons:

a. They were classified as endangered, threatened, or sensitive within the previous five years.
b. They require habitat that is of limited availability during some portion of their life cycle.
c. They are indicators of environmental quality.
d. There are unresolved taxonomic questions that may affect their candidacy for listing as endangered, threatened, or sensitive species.

2. State Monitor Species will be managed by the Department, as needed, to prevent them from becoming endangered, threatened, or sensitive.

3. Species already classified in a category that provides adequate management emphasis, survey work, and data maintenance (e.g., game animals, game birds, furbearers, etc.) will not be designated as State Monitor Species.

Mapping Criteria Codes:
(listed in order of decreasing
specificity)
B: Breeding Location (Nest or Den)
CR: Communal Roost
RC,RLC,RSC: Regular (Large or
Small) Concentration
RI: Regular Individual
IO: Individual Occurrence
(If a less specific criterion is listed,
then the more specific criteria are
implied as well)

Washington State Monitor List
Current through June 30, 2008

Species of Concern in Washington include all State Endangered, Threatened, Sensitive, and Candidate species. Species of Concern also include Federal Endangered, Threatened, and Candidate fish stocks. Species of Concern are also considered priority species. State Monitor species are not considered Species of Concern, but are monitored for status and distribution. They are managed by the Department, as needed, to prevent them from becoming endangered, threatened, or sensitive.