California species of special concern

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A species of special concern is a legal designation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for native wildlife facing significant risks. This label is applied to species that:

1. Have vanished from California, or for birds, no longer play their primary roles in the ecosystem
2. Are deemed threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act but lack state listing
3. Meet the state Endangered Species Act criteria for threatened or endangered status but await formal listing
4. Have experienced or are currently undergoing substantial declines in population or habitat range, potentially leading to consideration for threatened or endangered status under the state Endangered Species Act if these declines persist
5. Possess naturally small populations that are exposed to various threats, such as habitat loss or human interference, which could result in declines meeting the criteria for threatened or endangered status under the state Endangered Species Act^[2]