become a
force of good
for nature!

Michigan nature is incredible and worth preserving. To help our home tell its full story - we aim to bridge the gap between community members and the incredible species we share this land with! 

michigan is unique on a global scale!

If you’ve ever crossed the Mackinac Bridge…

you may have noticed that the views outside your car look very different on the opposite side of the bridge from the side you came from. Michigan has a ton of ecosystem diversity due to the influence on our state by these lil’ things called GLACIERS! 

For a REAL LONG TIME these glaciers sat on top of our beloved home and spent their time melting, freezing, melting again and reshaping the earth beneath them. Their work carved Michigan into a rich and beautiful tapestry of ecosystems that now provide a home for an astounding variety of life.

Due to our unique relationship with the glaciers that formed the great lakes, we live in a transitionary landscape that has a little bit of everything. We have ecosystems that are more common to the south of us - and also ecosystems that are more common north of us. When a landscape has so much ecosystem diversity, and a heck of a lot of WATER, that means the mitten state is full of a WHOLE LOTTA AMAZING FORMS OF LIFE that call these ecosystems home!

Many forms of life have adapted to live within a very specific ecosystem. Due to a whole bunch of forces fighting against nature, some of these incredible species have become quite rare on our landscape. As the ecosystems they live in have been degraded or destroyed, they no longer have a place to thrive as they once did. 

Michigan is home to 18 Species of Plants and Wildlife that are listed as critically endangered at a federal level. 

Due to our state having ecosystems that primarily exist to the north or south of us, we are at the furthest ranges of many species that only live in those ecosystems. So, our friends at the Michigan Natural Features Inventory decided to track these species individually so we know what species are at risk of no longer existing in Michigan.

At the State level, there are:

endangered plant species

89

endangered wildlife species

65

threatened plant species

186

threatened wildlife species

67

Conservation Scientists also track Species of Special Concern who are currently experiencing population drops or are at risk to be added to the Threatened and Endangered species list in the future unless conservation action is taken to protect them.

plant species of special concern

116

wildlife species of special concern

194

If you want to browse the full lists of Rare Plants or Wildlife in Michigan, click below to visit the Michigan Natural Features Inventory

2025 featured rare species

On Saturday July 26, 2025, Pleasant Peninsula will be bringing 21 artists from around the United States to paint 21 murals that highlight 21 species that are listed as Threatened or Endangered in Michigan. Browse the list below and learn more about these incredible forms of life we share our home with before attending our Grand Opening Festival on July 26!

how you can help protect these species

REPORT YOUR RARE SPECIES OBSERVATIONS TO THE MICHIGAN NATURAL FEATURES INVENTORY

You can become an essential part of the conservation process by helping conservation scientists locate high quality habitats where some of these rare species occur. Reporting observations to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory ensures that we have a better understanding of where these species still exist. This process is the first step to helping ensure that conservation efforts are focused on preserving high-quality habitats where rare forms of life can THRIVE. 

For information on how YOU can single-handedly help protect land in Michigan, visit the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.

The more eyes we have looking for these species, the more accurate conservation scientists will be able to identify habitats worth protecting.

support your local land trust

The best way to get involved in the protection of these species is by supporting your local land trust or conservation organization. Whether you sign up to become a volunteer, or donate financially, you are helping these groups ensure that everyone has an opportunity to connect with Michigan’s RICH natural heritage and that every single one of our state’s native species has access to a healthy ecosystem where they can thrive.

Here’s a big ol’ list of organizations that you can get involved with throughout the state.

statewide

upper peninsula

northern lower peninsula

western lower peninsula

eastern lower peninsula

buddy-up with biodiversity

At the end of the day, being curious about the world around you and exploring nature is an incredibly powerful way to learn more about the world around you. You can learn so much just by going outside and being intentional about acknowledging the other forms of life around you. 

Trust us when we say, the more you learn about these species that we share this land with, the more you will fall in love with them and want to see their homes protected.

If you’ve never been outside before and are looking for an opportunity to engage with nature - we encourage you to attend one of our upcoming events where we’ll try our best to introduce you to some of our favorite non-human friends that we’re sure you’ll form a great friendship with.