Special Status Species
When a population of a fish or wildlife species falls too low, the population may be at increased risk from a catastrophic event or disease outbreak, the lack of suitable mates, or other threats. If threats to the population are not adequately controlled, the population may eventually go extinct. To conserve populations and prevent extinctions from occurring, the State of Alaska and the United States government maintain lists of potentially vulnerable species that meet the legal definitions of threatened and endangered species under state and federal law. Species on these lists are protected by regulatory provisions and other conservation measures. The lists help educate and inform people about vulnerable species, and help fish and wildlife managers prioritize their conservation funds and efforts.