This Wildlife Action Map (WAM) site updates the Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) Tool with addition of the Conservation Action Tracker (CAT). Through these interactive tools, users have access to Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan (PA WAP) species accounts, updated species distributions, and invertebrate species information for which species accounts were not developed. Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) associated habitats, conservation actions, and research and survey needs are also available in an Area of Interest Report.
Data Scale: Data are presented at the 10-acre hexagon planning unit scale.
Species of Greatest Conservation Need Represented (spatial data; 2015-25 PA WAP): 559 of 664. Data deficiencies, mainly invertebrate species, prohibit an inclusive data set.
Data Sources: SGCN presence data have been compiled from sources considered reputable by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. These data are updated either quarterly (threatened and endangered species) or annually throughout the life of the WAM tools. Other foundational data sources (e.g., habitat classification, conservation actions) will be updated as refinements become available, or as revised in the PA WAP.
- UPDATES
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**It is recommended to clear your browser’s cache for the updates to be visible.**
DATA:
- Quarterly data update;
- New records updated as of 31 December 2025;
- Added 983 new records for 67 Species of Greatest Conservation Need;
- Updated 48 existing records for 17 Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
FUNCTIONALITY:
- Added an enhanced terrestrial habitat map for Pennsylvania.
DESIGN:
- No updates.
- Species Included and Data Age
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For a list of all SGCN in the Wildlife Action Map as of 31 December 2025, data sources used, and minimum/maximum data age, click here.
- Data Sources and Update Schedules
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- Sensitive and Non-sensitive Species
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Contact: Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, pnhpdatainbox@paconserve.org
Last Updated Update Frequency Sensitive Species (Biotics Database) December 2025 Quarterly Non-sensitive Species (various sources, see below) December 2025 Annually - Birds
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Contact: Pennsylvania Game Commission, PGCSWAP@pa.gov
Last Updated Update Frequency Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania
(Wilson et al. 2012)2009 20 years eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)(includes Pennsylvania 3rd Bird Atlas records) September 2025 Annually Pennsylvania Game Commission bird surveys September 2025 Sensitive Species - quarterly; Others - annually Contractor surveys December 2018 Sensitive Species - quarterly; Others - annually HABITAT SUITABILITY MODELS (Wilson et. al. 2012; C. Tracey, pers. comm.) supplemented location data for several species, including:
- Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
- Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus)
- American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
- Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
- American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
- Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
- Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)
- Sora (Porzana carolina)
- American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)
- Eastern Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferous)
- Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
- Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)
- Purple Martin (Progne subis)
- Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)
- Brown Creeper (Certhia Americana)
- Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
- Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
- Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
- Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
- Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus)
- Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)
- Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla)
- Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)
- Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)
- Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor)
- Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)
- Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)
- Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)
- Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)
- Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)
- Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
- Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
- Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
- Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii)
- White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
- Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
- Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
The models will be updated as sufficient additional information becomes available. In the Area of Interest report, the highest possible occurrence category based upon model results is 'likely'.
- Mammals
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Contact: Pennsylvania Game Commission, PGCSWAP@pa.gov
Last Updated Update Frequency Pennsylvania Game Commission mammal surveys September 2025 Sensitive Species - quarterly; Others - annually Other surveys September 2025 Sensitive Species - quarterly; Others - annually - Reptiles & Amphibians
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Contact: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, RA-FBSWAP@pa.gov
Last Updated Update Frequency Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey (PARS) December 2025 Sensitive Species - quarterly; Others - annually - Fishes
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Contact: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, RA-FBSWAP@pa.gov
Last Updated Update Frequency Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission surveys September 2025 Sensitive Species - quarterly; Others - annually - Invertebrates
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Contacts: Aquatic - Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, RA-FBSWAP@pa.gov; Terrestrial - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, bleppo@paconserve.org
Last Updated Update Frequency Aquatic Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission surveys September 2025 Sensitive Species - quarterly; Others - annually Terrestrial Xerces Society December 2018 Sensitive Species - quarterly; Others - annually Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) December 2025 Sensitive Species - quarterly; Others - annually Invert-E-Base December 2025 Sensitive Species - quarterly, Others - annually HABITAT SUITABILITY MODELS (C. Tracey, pers. comm.) supplemented location data for several species, including:
- Arctic Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
- Long Dash (Polites mystic)
- Black Dash (Euphyes conspicua)
- Mulberry Wing (Poanes massasoit)
- Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator viator)
- Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion)
- Two-Spotted Skipper (Euphyes bimacula)
- Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus)
- Bog Copper (Lycaena epixanthe)
- Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton)
- Harris’ Checkerspot (Chlosyne harrisii)
- Eyed Brown (Satyrodes eurydice)
The models will be updated as sufficient additional information becomes available. In the Area of Interest report, the highest possible occurrence category based upon model results is 'likely'.
- How To Submit Data
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Submit species data to be evaluated for inclusion in this site through free, widely used community science databases or directly to the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Note: Refer to the comprehensive list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need before submitting data. Submitted data are subject to federal and state sensitive species protections, as applicable, and rigorous review and validation.
Freely available community science databases include:
- CAT Conservation Impact Summaries
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When CAT projects are submitted or updated, and relevant information changes, these changes will be reflected on the Home page.
Species Benefited: Cumulative number of SGCN to which species-focused actions have been directed. Also includes SGCN derived from habitat-focused actions.
Conservation Projects: Cumulative number of tracked actions initiated, completed, or continuous (ongoing). Actions designated as “Interested” or “Planned” are not included in this number.
Acres Impacted: Cumulative number of acres to which habitat actions have been directed or encompassed.
Actions Implemented: Cumulative number of specific conservation actions submitted.
Research or Survey Needs Addressed: Cumulative number of unique research or survey needs submitted. In other words, the same research need selected in more than one Action Area would be reflected in “Conservation Impacts” as one research need conducted.
Page last updated: 17 March 2026