T & E


Threatened and Endangered Species

  • Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys and Baseline Research
  • Ecological/Biological Assessments
  • Site Analysis of Habitat Impacts
  • Conciliation between the client and the local, state, and federal agencies

Huff and Huff, Inc. (H&H) has conducted state and federally threatened/endangered (T&E) species baseline research and surveys. These research efforts involve coordination with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for development of species specific research methodologies and the assessment of habitat availability.  The Endangered Species Act, the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act, the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act, and the Interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989 require state agencies and units of local governments to consider the potential adverse effects of proposed actions on state and federally listed T&E species and sites listed on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory.

We have successfully worked with the USFWS, the IDNR, and other regulatory agencies to develop creative conservation plans that ensure the protection of wildlife while also meeting clients’ needs to conduct development activities.

H&H offers the following services for Threatened & Endangered Species:

  • Section 7 (TES) Consultation, both formal and informal
  • Habitat Assessment/Biological Assessment and Evaluations
  • Habitat Clearance
  • Presence/absence surveys
  • Field surveys for population and habitat use
  • Not likely to affect reports
  • Incidental take permits
  • Block clearances
  • Large scale management plans
  • Incidental take permits (Section 10 permit)
  • Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs)
  • Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA’s)
  • Mitigation plans
  • Monitoring programs

The following are examples of the species we have consulted on:

  • Eastern Prairie Fringe Orchid (Platanthera leucophaea)
  • Blandings Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
  • Indiana Bat (Myodis sodalis)
  • Franklin’s Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus franklinii),
  • Eryngium stem-borer moth (Papaipema eryngii),
  • Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
  • Kirtland’s snake (Clonophis kirtlandii)
  • Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus)
  • Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
  • H&H also conducted mitigation development for Hines Emerald Dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana).

H&H conducted Blanding’s Turtles surveys as part of environmental compliance for underground pipeline maintenance projects met with the client’s project managers and construction foremen before commencement of the construction to educate the client regarding Blanding’s Turtle biology and discuss precautionary strategies.  A field guide with photographs of the Turtle and a step-by-step guide with precautionary procedures was provided to all of the client’s managers and field personnel.

In addition, H&H conducted baseline reasearch for small mammals within seven properties of a forest preserve.  This baseline study provided data for use in future studies, planning, and land management decisions for the properties owned by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.