The value of wildlife habitat and the loss from its destruction is hard to quantify. Nonetheless, the conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat provides many benefits to the town, including (1) preservation of open space and scenic views, (2) recreational and educational opportunities, (3) water resource and water supply protection, (4) wind, noise, and visual buffers, and (5) flood prevention. Preservation of wildlife habitat is important because of the cumulative effect of development. Although a single development may destroy only a fraction of existing wildlife habitat area, repeated approval of such development will quickly reduce or eliminate the land's ability to support many species of plants and animals and irrevocably prevent future use of land as wildlife habitat. The following lists the animal species currently endangered or threatened in the State of New Hampshire. Endangered and Threatened Species in New Hampshire, 1998 Endangered: Common Name Scientific Name dwarf wedge mussel Alasmidonta heterodon swollen wedge mussel Alasmidonta varicosa frosted elfin butterfly Incisalia irus Karner blue butterfly Lycaeides melissa samuelis Persius dusky wing skipper Erynnis persius banded bog skimmer drangonfly Williamsonia lintneri Sunapee trout Salvelinus aureolus shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps common tern Sterna hirundo piping plover Charadrius melodus upland sandpiper Bartramia longicauda bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos peregrine Falco peregrinus sedge wren Cistothorus platensis loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus Henslow's sparrow Ammodramus henslowii Canada lynx Lynx canadensis small footed bat Myotis leibii Threatened: Common Name Scientific Name pine pinion moth Lithophane lepida lepida pine barrnes zanclognatha moth Zanclognatha martha cobblestone tiger beetle Cicindela marginipennis common loon Gavia immer least tern Sterna albifrons arctic tern Sterna paradisaea roseate tern Sterna dougallii Cooper's hawk Accipter cooperii northern harrier Circus cyaneus osprey Pandion haliaetus New Jersey tea span moth Apodrepanulatrix liberaria common nighthawk Chordeiles minor purple martin Progne subis pine marten Martes americana Source: New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, January 1998 home | about | hiking trails | fishing spots | forests | picnic spots | historic | parks and recreation | scenic roads | wildlife | streams and water bodies Copyright © 2001 Milford Conservation Commission