AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is seeking comments from the public on proposed additions and changes to the State of Maine Endangered and Threatened Species list, according to a news release.

The proposed changes include recognition of six new species under the Maine Endangered Species Act, including three bats and three invertebrates.

Three cave bats are experiencing catastrophic declines from a prolific disease called White Nose Syndrome, first documented in 2006. Little brown bats and northern long-eared bats are proposed for endangered status, while the eastern small-footed bat would be classified as threatened.

Three new invertebrate additions to the list include the butterfly frigga fritillary, the land snail six-whorl vertigo and the beetle cobblestone tiger beetle. All three are currently documented in single locations and are proposed as endangered.

Other changes include status changes for four species already listed under the Maine Endangered Species Act. Two birds, the black-crowned night heron and the great cormorant, are proposed to be upgraded from threatened to endangered. Two invertebrates, the roaring brook mayfly and Clayton’s copper butterfly, would be downlisted from endangered to threatened.

According to the release, the IFW will offer two public hearings where public comments will be taken concerning the list. The first is at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, at the Portland City Hall, 389 Congress St., Portland, and the second is at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the Roberts Learning Center at University of Maine in Farmington.

Those interested in submitting public comments by writing must do so by Aug. 15, the release states. Comments can be submitted by email tobecky.orff@maine.gov or by mailing comments to Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, 284 State St., #41 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

For the listing of all 45 species on the Maine Endangered and Threatened Species list, please visit http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/endangered/listedspeciesme.htm.

IFW said the department is required by regulation to update the State’s Endangered and Threatened Species list at least once every eight years. It will consider public comment received before presenting the department’s final recommendation of the list to the legislature in 2015. Any additions or subtraction to the list must be approved by the legislature and governor.

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