PORTLAND, Maine — Maine environmental officials are proposing to add two bird species to the state's list of endangered animals.
Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife spokesman Mark Latti says the black-crowned night heron and great cormorant could be upgraded from "threatened" to "endangered." The change is subject to public hearings and approval by the state Legislature.
State officials are also considering listing the little brown bat and northern long-eared bat as endangered. Three invertebrates — the cobblestone tiger beetle, frigga fritillary butterfly and six-whorl vertigo snail could also be listed endangered. The eastern small-footed bat faces threatened status.
The public hearings are set for Aug. 4 at Portland City Hall and Aug. 5 at the University of Maine in Farmington. The state lists 22 species as endangered and 23 as threatened.