A species becomes federally-listed as protected after an extensive evaluation process determines that a threat exists that would affect its continued existence in the environment.
Three federally-listed species are known to occur on the Fermilab site. Volunteers monitor for the federally-endangered rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) and have found it as recently as 2018. Seed from the federally-threatened eastern prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera leucophaea) was introduced to wet prairies on the Fermilab site in 2017 after a formal agreement was made between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Energy; the first flowering plant was discovered in 2024. Fermilab has many acres of suitable habitat and the inter-agency cooperation benefits the conservation of this species. The federally-threatened Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) was detected by acoustic surveys in 2018 and 2019.
Some state-listed species (i.e., endangered or threatened in the state of Illinois) have been recorded at Fermilab for many years. Examples include the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), least bittern (Ixobrychus exilis), and Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). At Fermilab, state-listed species are protected when possible to aid recovery efforts in Illinois. The Illinois endangered osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a prime example, and the management strategy has been quite successful. Several nesting pairs regularly breed on the Fermilab site and 83 young have fledged between 2009-2024. Working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the eryngium stem borer moth (Papaipema eryngii) may be introduced in the future at Fermilab, given the ample amounts of host plants and habitat sizes.
Species that are no longer listed due to state-wide conservation efforts and are present at Fermilab include the savanna blazing star (Liatris scariosa var. nieuwlandii), white lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium candidum), Wood’s sedge (Carex woodii), Henslow’s sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii), and grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum).
State endangered osprey at Fermilab. 73 young have fledged from several nests between 2009 and 2023. Photo credit: M. Murphy
One federally-listed endangered species is known to occur on the Fermilab site: the rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis). Photo credit: T. Miesle
State-listed species, such as the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), have been recorded at Fermilab for many years. Photo credit: T. Smith