Two of Maine's birds are not only endangered in Maine, but are also under protection of the Endangered Species Act: the piping plover and roseate tern. The piping plover is an oceanic birds found on the beaches of Reid State Park and Goose Rocks Beach; this bird nests in Maine during the summer. Historically, roseate terns dwelt on approximately 150 of Maine's islands, but currently are only found on six. Both birds are endangered due to urbanization and egg collecting. Other endangered birds in Maine include the golden eagle, peregrine falcon, sedge wren, American pipit and grasshopper sparrow; these birds are not protected by the Endangered Species Act.
The only endangered mammal in Maine is the New England cottontail, a rabbit species. Since the 1960s, the population of the New England cottontail in the Northeast United States -- including Maine -- has fallen over 75 percent, according the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This rabbit species dwells in forest thickets in southern Maine. The primary reasons for the decline of New England cottontails is agricultural development and the introduction of eastern cottontails, which are fierce competitors for food and shelter.
Maine has three endangered reptiles within its borders, the black racer snake and two turtle species -- Blanding's turtle and box turtle. Black racers are the largest snakes in Maine; as adults, these snakes grow up to 6 feet in length. In Maine, this snake species is only found in York County, located in the southern region of the state. Urbanization is the main cause of the black racer's endangerment. Blanding's turtles and box turtles are the rarest turtle species in Maine due to habitat fragmentation and human encroachment. Also, southern Maine is the northernmost point of all three of these reptiles' native ranges.
Redfin pickerels, shortnose sturgeons and Atlantic salmons are the only three endangered fish in Maine. Two of the fish -- shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic salmon -- are protected under the Endangered Species Act, while redfin pickerels are not. All three fish species are found in the southern region of Maine in the oceans inlets near the Atlantic Ocean; sparse populations of Atlantic salmon are also found along Maine's northern coastline. Water degradation and overfishing are the two main causes for the endangerment of these fish species.