1. A. Listing Criteria. The following factors shall be considered for listing species other than plant species as threatened:

   1. (1) Whether the species has experienced a steady, substantial decline in Maryland, and if the decline continues, the species is likely to become endangered;
   2. (2) Whether there has been steady, widespread loss of the species' essential habitat; or
   3. (3) Whether protection measures already taken have significantly reduced the chances of the species becoming extirpated from Maryland.

2. B. Permits. The permit procedures to be followed are set forth in Regulation .03 of this chapter. The following apply:

   1. (1) Except by special permit from the Director, a person may not take, export, possess, process, sell, offer for sale, deliver, carry, transport or ship by any means any threatened wildlife, reptile, amphibian, mollusk, crustacean, or finfish species.

   2. (2) Permits to take threatened species shall be issued only for:

      1. (a) Scientific research designed to enhance the recovery of the species or population;
      2. (b) Other valid scientific research; or
      3. (c) Educational purposes designed to further public awareness regarding the species.

   3. (3) Incidental taking of a threatened wildlife, reptile, amphibian, mollusk, crustacean, or finfish species shall be allowed only after the Director has been notified 30 days in advance of the change in land use or other action by a private landowner which shall result in the incidental taking. The Administration, upon receipt of the application for an incidental taking permit from the landowner, shall within 30 days either:

      1. (a) Take action to salvage the threatened species; or
      2. (b) Issue to the landowner an incidental taking permit authorizing the landowner to proceed with the action which will result in the incidental taking of the species.

3. C. The following species are considered to be threatened throughout Maryland unless a smaller range is indicated:

   1. (1) Mollusks:

      1. (a) Triangle floater (Alasmidonta undulata); and
      2. (b) Yellow lance (Elliptio lanceolata);

   2. (2) Insects:

      1. (a) Northern metalmark (Calephelis borealis);
      2. (b) Superb jewelwing (Calopteryx amata);
      3. (c) Harris' checkerspot (Chlosyne harrisii);
      4. (d) Selys’ sundragon (Helocordulia selysii);
      5. (e) Rare skipper (Problema bulenta); and
      6. (f) Atlantis fritillary (Speyeria atlantis);

   3. (3) Finfish:

      1. (a) Glassy darter (Etheostoma vitreum);
      2. (b) American brook lamprey (Lethenteron appendix); and
      3. (c) Chesapeake logperch (Percina bimaculata);

   4. (4) Reptiles:

      1. (a) Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta);
      2. (b) Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas); and
      3. (c) Bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii); and

   5. (5) Birds:

      1. (a) American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus);
      2. (b) Red knot (Calidris canutus rufa);
      3. (c) Nashville warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla); and
      4. (d) Least tern (Sternula antillarum).

Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§4-2A-01—4-2A-09 and 10-2A-01—10-2A-09, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01 and .02 were previously codified as Regulations .43 and .65, respectively, under COMAR 08.03.01 Wildlife Conservation. This recodification was effective June 3, 1985 (12:11 Md. R. 1047)

For the history of these regulations before June 3, 1985, see the Administrative History which follows COMAR 08.03.01.

Regulation .01 amended effective June 3, 1985 (12:11 Md. R. 1047)

Regulations .01 and .02 repealed effective June 29, 1987 (14:13 Md. R. 1471)

Regulations .01—.11 adopted effective June 29, 1987 (14:13 Md. R. 1471)

Regulation .01 amended effective June 26, 1989 (16:12 Md. R. 1334); December 24, 1990 (17:25 Md. R. 2906)

Regulations .04B and C, .05C, .06, .07C, .08C, .09C, and .10C amended and Regulation .11 recodified to Regulation .12 and new Regulation .11 adopted effective December 24, 1990 (17:25 Md. R. 2906)

Regulation .11-1 adopted as an emergency provision effective April 13, 1992 (19:8 Md. R. 799)

Regulation .11-1 adopted effective August 3, 1992 (19:15 Md. R. 1388)

Chapter revised effective October 24, 1994 (21:21 Md. R. 1813)

Regulation .01B amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); December 31, 2007 (34:26 Md. R. 2261)

Regulation .04C amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .05C amended effective January 22, 2001 (28:1 Md. R. 25); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .06 amended effective October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .06C amended effective January 22, 2001 (28:1 Md. R. 25); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578)

Regulation .07C amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .08C amended effective January 22, 2001 (28:1 Md. R. 25); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .09C amended effective November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .10B amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578)

Regulation .12 amended effective November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578)

Regulation .14 adopted effective December 31, 2007 (34:26 Md. R. 2261)

Chapter revised effective August 29, 2016 (43:17 Md. R. 953)

Regulation .01B amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .03A amended effective September 26, 2016 (43:19 Md. R. 1071)

Regulation .04C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .05C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .06 amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93)

Regulation .06C, F, I amended effective August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .07C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .08C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .09C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)