By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Three species are included in this year's Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) review of state endangered, threatened, or species-in-need-of-conservation (SINC) lists. The reviews, which take place every five years, begin with a petition to change listings. A seven-person committee will hold meetings at five locations, including the Kansas Wetlands Education Center in February. KDWP Assistant Director of Ecological Services Jordan Hofmeier said threatened species carry more protection than SINC species.
"Threatened and endangered species are protected from take, but they also have habitat protections as well," he said. "SINC species are just protected from individual take. They do not carry the habitat protection that a threatened species does."
On the review list this year are the shoal chub, broad-headed skink, and northern map turtle. A recent survey conducted by Emporia State University found record numbers of the turtles in Kansas. Petitions have asked that all three species be removed from the threatened species list and moved to the SINC list.
"It's kind of the same story for both the shoal chub and the broad-headed skink," said Hofmeier. "We've had some increased efforts to try and find those species, and with improved methods and sampling techniques, we've had much better luck finding them. They're not nearly as rare as previously thought."
Informational meetings at each site will last two hours. After a 90-day public comment period, the Wildlife and Parks Commission will make a ruling at a future public hearing. The KWEC meeting will begin at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6.