Hunting in Georgia: 12 Animals Designated Nongame, Endangered, Threatened, and Protected Species

Something you may not know about the state of Georgia is that lots of animals there are listed as rare, unusual, threatened or endangered and, thus, are protected in some fashion by federal or state law, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

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Species with federal status, either Protected or Candidate for federal status, are also protected in Georgia and fall into several categories, including mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, invertebrates and fishes, says the Georgia Rare Species Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Here is a brief look at 12 of those animals.

1. Rafinesque’s big-eared bat, which has rare status in the state of Georgia.

2. The southeastern pocket gopher is considered threatened in Georgia with no federal legal status.

3. The gray bat or gray myotis is considered endangered both federally and in Georgia.

4. The Indiana bat, also called the Indiana myotis or social myotis, is considered endangered by federally and in Georgia.

5. The round-tailed muskrat, also known as the Florida water rat, is considered threatened in Georgia with no federal legal status.

6. The Florida panther, also known as the panther, cougar, painter, catamount, is endangered both federally and in Georgia.

7. The Appalachian cottontail, also known as the wood rabbit, New England cottontail and Allegheny cottontail, has no federal legal status, but is considered rare in Georgia.

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8. The peregrine falcon, known also as the great-footed hawk, American peregrine, duck hawk and wandering falcon, is listed as rare in Georgia, but has unlisted federal status.

9. The common raven, also known as the raven, American raven, northern raven and Mexican raven, has rare status in Georgia but is not listed federally.

10. The bald eagle, also called the American eagle, white-headed eagle, Washington eagle, white-headed sea eagle and black eagle, is threatened in Georgia, but without federal legal status.

11. The flatwoods salamander, which includes frosted flatwoods salamander and reticulated flatwoods salamander is considered rare in Georgia, with no federal status.

12. The Atlantic sturgeon, which is considered endangered both in Georgia and federally.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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