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Natural Heritage Data

MDIFW uses the Natural Heritage database for observations of rare, threatened, and special concern wildlife species. The Natural Heritage Network consists of 74 independent Natural Heritage Programs that collect and analyze data about the plants, animals, and ecological communities of the Western Hemisphere. Consistent standards for collecting, interpreting, and managing data allow information from different programs to be shared and combined regionally, nationally, and internationally. Natural Heritage biologists conduct extensive field inventories to locate and verify species populations and to assess their current conservation status. Each program maintains a database that tracks the relative rarity of each species or community and the location and status of each known population. Representing more than 25 years of ecological inventory and database development, these are the most complete and up-to-date conservation databases available.

Maine’s Natural Heritage Program has two components; the Natural Areas Program in the Department of Conservation, which tracks and maintains data on plants and natural communities, and the Wildlife Resource Assessment Section in MDIFW, which tracks and maintains data on threatened, endangered and special concern species of wildlife. Each observation is represented by a polygon enclosing habitat of conservation value to the species and/or a Consultation Area within which certain activities might affect the species or its habitat. MDIFW currently tracks data for 21 species of moths, 26 butterflies, 30 dragonflies, 22 mayflies, 20 mussels and snails, 2 salamanders, 60 birds, 3 fish, 7 mammals, and 9 turtles and snakes.

To learn more about the Natural Heritage Network and “NatureServe,” the parent organization that coordinates state, national, and global data for rare species, visit NatureServe’s web site. This web site also provides a wealth of information on the biology, state, and management needs of thousands of plant and animal species, including all of Maine’s rare species. It’s one of the best places to start if you’re looking for information on rare species!

Request digital data for locations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species of wildlife.

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