Georgia is considering the first major update to its list of protected plants and animals in two decades, a move that could add 145 species whose populations are declining or facing significant threats. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says the state’s current protected-species list contains 318 species. Under the proposed revisions, that number would increase to 423, with 145 species added and 40 removed after surveys indicated their populations have recovered. Another 66 species would have their protection status changed to better reflect current conditions. Among the animals proposed for protection are the hoary bat, eastern spotted skunk, whooping crane, eastern diamondback rattlesnake and Suwannee alligator snapping turtle. The changes would mark the first update to Georgia’s protected-species list since 2006. DNR says the recommendations grew out of work on Georgia’s 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan, which involved hundreds of experts evaluating species based on their rarity, population trends and threats to their survival. State protection carries legal consequences. Georgia law prohibits intentionally harming protected animals. Protected plants cannot be removed from state property without a permit or from private property without the landowner’s permission. Violations can be prosecuted as misdemeanors. The proposal would also make it easier for nurseries and other sellers to offer certain native plants. An exemption would allow 39 protected plant species…
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