Threatened & Endangered Species in Iowa

Iowa is the 26th largest state in the United States and the 30th most populated. The state's main industry is agriculture, meaning it has vast swatches of undeveloped countryside where animals may thrive. Of the many animal species within the state, only five are listed as endangered or threatened.

  1. Indiana Bat

    • The Indiana bat first made it to the endangered list in 1967. The species has a distinctive habitat and roosting preference; through conflict with humans and pesticides, population numbers have dropped. These small bats have a wingspan of up to 11 inches and rarely weigh more than 1/4 oz.

    Least Tern

    • The least tern is a small, black-and-white bird measuring about 9 inches in height. The species is listed as endangered in the state mainly due to habitat loss. The damming and redirection of rivers has drowned many of the tern's favorite river sandbars, and recreational boating has also caused disturbance to nesting terns.

    Piping Plover

    • The piping plover is a small, white bird with a black ring of feathers around its neck and between its eyes. The species has garnered only the "threatened" designation in Iowa but is endangered to the north in the Great Lakes region. The piping plover lives near lake shores and migrates south during the winter months.

    Pallid Sturgeon

    • The pallid sturgeon, found in some Iowa rivers, became an endangered species in 1990. The fish can grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh 80 lbs. This bottom-feeding fish relies on river habitats. The damming of rivers to create lakes has decreased the sturgeon's available habitat -- a chief factor in its declining numbers.

    Topeka Shiner

    • The Topeka shiner is a small, silvery minnow less than 3 inches in length. The species lives in small pools and streams in Iowa as well as in South Dakota, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska. The fish is considered endangered in the southern regions of its range but secure in northern habitats. The pools and streams in which the shiner lives often dry out during summer months.