2024 Rare Animal List

North Carolina’s Natural Heritage Program maintains an inventory of rare animals and plants in the state as part of its mission to support conservation of natural areas. The Rare Animal List compiles status and distribution information about species that are considered rare within the state.

The primary functions of the natural heritage inventory and Rare Animal List are to:

1) help set priorities for protection of the state’s most important natural areas, rare species, and natural communities;

2) provide information for environmental assessment and land management planning;

3) help set priorities for future biological field surveys.