After reviewing public comments concerning the proposed threatened status of the Ocmulgee Skullcap, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined the plant needs more protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and meets the criteria of an endangered species.  

In June of 2022, the Service proposed to list the plant as threatened with exemptions, and designate critical habitat. However, at the conclusion of the comment period, biologists reviewed new scientific information indicating the Ocmulgee skullcap is on the brink of extinction and should be listed as an endangered species.  

Ocmulgee Skullcap

“We are very grateful to our co-collaborators who submitted new evidence on threats to the Ocmulgee skullcap, leading us to upgrade its status to endangered,” said Michele Elmore, biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We plan to work hand-in-hand with our partners on the ground, and together, we will provide a solid framework to recover this beautiful plant.”  

A rare plant, the Ocmulgee skullcap is not found anywhere else in the world except in the watersheds of the Ocmulgee River and Savannah River. The primary threats to the plant are development and urbanization, competition from non-native invasive species, and herbivory by white-tailed deer. Of the remaining 19 populations, most are small with few individuals.  

Based on updated information received during the comment period, the Service will also add an additional sub-unit of 84 acres to the critical habitat. The critical habitat units consist of 6,661 acres within 10 counties in Georgia (Bibb, Bleckley, Burke, Columbia, Houston, Monroe, Pulaski, Richmond, Screven, and Twiggs counties) and two counties in South Carolina (Aiken and Edgefield counties).   

Critical habitat does not prevent development or other activities. It will only impact activities that require a federal permit or funding and are likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat.  

The Service will capture a vision of what the Ocmulgee skullcap’s recovered state looks like in a Recovery Plan. It will also create a separate “stepped-down” Recovery Implementation Strategy (RIS). The public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the Recovery Plan. The RIS is a more flexible operational document that outlines how, when, and with whom recovery actions will be implemented.