Sensitive Wildlife Designations in California

In California, wildlife can have no status; they can be designated as listed; or they can be designated as sensitive. This video is on sensitive wildlife in California.

Special-status Species or Special-status Wildlife
Wildlife designated as "listed" or "sensitive" by federal agencies and/or state agencies are referred to as "special-status species" or "special-status wildlife".

Sensitive Wildlife Species
Sensitive wildlife include those animals designated as sensitive by federal agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and/or the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Sensitive wildlife also include those animals designated as sensitive by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Sensitive wildlife have no official status under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) or the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Sensitive wildlife are not provided special legal protection under the ESA or CESA.

Federally Sensitive Wildlife (USFWS) (BCC)
USFWS sensitive wildlife are those designated as a bird of conservation concern (BCC). A bird that is designated by the USFWS as a bird of conservation concern is listed in their Birds of Conservation Concern 2021 report. The report identifies species, subspecies, and populations of all bird species that, without additional conservation actions, are likely to become candidates for listing under the ESA. The report is basically a list of birds to watch.

Federally Sensitive Wildlife (USFS) (USFS:S)
U.S. Forest Service sensitive (USFS:S) wildlife are those designated by a Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern.

Federally Sensitive Wildlife (BLM) (BLM:S)
BLM sensitive (BLM:S) wildlife are designated by the BLM state director as sensitive, and they require special management consideration.

State Sensitive Wildlife (SSC, FP, and WL)
CDFW sensitive wildlife are those animals designated as a species of special concern (SSC), fully protected (FP), and/or a watch list (WL) species. Species of special concern (SSC) is a CDFW designation give to wildlife because declining population levels, limited ranges, and/or continuing threats have made them vulnerable to extinction. The classification of fully protected (FP) was California’s initial effort in the 1960s to identify and provide additional protection to those animals that were rare or faced possible extinction. Watch list (WL) species are taxa that were previously species of special concern, but do not currently meet SSC criteria, and for which there is concern and a need for additional information to clarify status.

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