APPENDIX D 

BLM SENSITIVE AND STATE PROTECTED PLANT 

SPECIES POTENTIALLY OCCURRING IN THE WDO 

PLANNING AREA 

Appendix D 

May 2010 Winnemucca District Office – Draft RMP/EIS 1 

Table D-1 

BLM Sensitive and State Protected Plant and Wildlife Species Potentially 

Occurring in the WDO Planning Area 

Common Name Scientific Name State of 

Nevada

Preferred Habitat

Plants

Tiehm milkvetch Astragalus tiehmii S White ash deposits in basalt mesa 

country between 1600-1700 m 

elevation.

Schoolcraft catseye Cryptantha schoolcraftii S White ash deposits in sagebrush 

steppe between 1500-1700 m 

elevation.

Windloving buckwheat Eriogonum anemophilum S Windswept summits, ridges, and 

exposed slopes on loose limestone 

gravels & volcanic outcrops 

between 2130-2750 m elevation.

Crosby buckwheat Eriogonum crosbyae S Typically on rolling hills 

dominated by big sagebrush 

between 1650-1700 m elevation.

Grimy ivesia Ivesia rhypara var. rhypara S Deposits of light-colored ash-tuff 

with few and sparse associated 

species between 1600-1900 m

elevation.

Smooth stickleaf Mentzelia mollis S Sparsely vegetated volcanic 

ash/claybed outcrops between 

1160 to 1525 m elevation. 

Adjacent areas support sagebrushshadscale plant communities.

Cordelia beartongue Penstemon floribundus S Steep mountain slopes and 

associated alluvial fans in 

limestone rock desert between 

1300-2200 m elevation.

Pueblo Valley peppergrass Lepidium montanum var.

nevadense

S Dependent on sand dunes or deep 

sand, between 1275-1330 m

elevation.

Lonesome milkvetch Astragalus solitarius S Stiff clays of valley floors and 

mesas, usually in close association 

with little sagebrush between 

1400-1600 m elevation.

Owyhee prickly phlox Leptodactylon glabrum S Crevices in steep to vertical, 

coarse-crumbling volcanic canyon 

walls. Intolerant of water paths or 

seeps that may form in the rock 

crevices. Found between 2800-

4000 m elevation.

Sand cholla Opuntia pulchella --/CY Sand of dunes, dry-lake borders, 

river bottoms, washes, valleys, 

and plains in the desert between 

1200-1900 m elevation.

Oryctes Oryctes nevadensis S/-- Sandy substrates (often deep, 

loose sand), on washes, stabilized 

dunes, flats, slopes, and low desert 
Appendix D 

May 2010 Winnemucca District Office – Draft RMP/EIS 2 

Common Name Scientific Name State of 

Nevada

Preferred Habitat

foothills between 1100 - 2535 m 

elevation.

Lahontan beardtongue Penstemon palmeri var. 

marcranthus

S Along washes, roadsides and 

canyon floors, particularly on 

carbonate-containing substrates, 

usually where subsurface moisture 

is available throughout most of 

the summer between 1000-1400 m 

elevation.

Nevada dune beardtongue Penstemon arenarius S Deep, volcanic, sandy soils at 

1200-1350 m elevation in saltbush 

scrub.

Obscure scorpionflower Phacelia inconspicua --/CE Open sandy spots in 

sagebrush/grass zone, near 

junipers. Rocky north or west 

facing slopes on loose rich soil 

between 1525-2440 m elevation.

Osgood Mountain 

milkvetch

Astragalus yoder-williamsii --/CE Dry, cold ridge crests, stony flats, 

and disturbed roadbeds between 

1575-2170 m elevation. Associated 

with low sagebrush. 

Insects

Denio sandhill skipper Polites sabuleti sinemaculata S Unknown.

Humboldt sericum scarab Serica humboldti S Sand dunes that provide an easily 

penetrable substrate with ready 

access to higher levels of 

moisture, as well as protection 

from temperature extremes.

Mollusks

Dixie Valley springsnail Pyrgulopsis dixensis S Freshwater.

Fly Ranch pyrg P. bruesi S Habitat is a thermal spring with 

water temperature 27C, found on 

submerged aquatic vegetation.

Fishes

No known species listed.

Amphibians

No known species listed.

Reptiles

Short-horned lizard Phrynosoma douglasii S Occurs in open, shrubby, or 

openly wooded areas with sparse 

vegetation at ground level. 

Burrows into the soil or occupies 

rodent burrows.

Birds

Western snowy plover Charadrius alexandrinus 

nivosus

S Desert playas, ephemeral pools, 

lakes, reservoirs, and marshes.
Appendix D 

May 2010 Winnemucca District Office – Draft RMP/EIS 3 

Common Name Scientific Name State of 

Nevada

Preferred Habitat

Western burrowing owl Athene cunicularia hypugaea S Desert scrub, sagebrush, 

grasslands, meadows, and 

developed landscapes.

Greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus S Sagebrush, grasslands, and 

meadows.

Black tern Chlidonias niger S Marshes, desert playas, ephemeral 

pools, lakes and reservoirs.

Least bittern Ixobrychus exilis hesperis S Marshes.

Northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis S Conifer forests, lower montane

woodland, rivers, and streams.

White-faced ibis Plegadis chihi S Marshes, wet meadows, 

agricultural lands, lakes, and 

reservoirs.

Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos S Open country, open wooded 

country, and barren areas, 

especially in hilly or mountainous 

regions. Nests on rock ledges of 

cliffs or in large trees.

Long-billed curlew Numenius americanus S Wet meadows, agricultural lands, 

grasslands, and meadows.

Short-eared owl Asio flammeus S Desert scrub, sagebrush, marshes, 

grasslands, meadows, and 

agricultural lands.

Long-eared owl A. otus S Wooded areas with dense 

vegetation needed for roosting 

and nesting, open areas for 

hunting. Often associated with 

deciduous woods near water.

Juniper titmouse Baeolophus ridgwayi S Pinyon-juniper woodlands.

Ferruginous hawk Buteo regalis S Uses native and tame grasslands, 

pastures, hayland, cropland, and 

shrubsteppe.

Swainson’s hawk B. swainsoni S Grasslands, meadows, rivers, 

streams, agricultural lands, and

lower montane woodlands.

Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus S Agricultural lands, grasslands, 

meadows, wet meadows, marshes, 

rivers, and streams.

Prairie falcon Falco mexicanus S Primarily large patches of open 

land with low vegetation stature 

characterize the habitats used, 

especially in mountainous areas, 

steppe, plains, prairies, or 

croplands.

Sandhill crane Grus Canadensis tabida S Grasslands, meadows, marshes, 

rivers, streams, and agricultural 

lands.

Pinyon jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus S Lower montane woodlands.

Yellow-breasted chat Icteria virens S Nests in bushes, brier tangles, 

vines, and low trees, generally in 

dense vegetation less than 2 m 

above ground.
Appendix D 

May 2010 Winnemucca District Office – Draft RMP/EIS 4 

Common Name Scientific Name State of 

Nevada

Preferred Habitat

Loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus S Desert scrub, sagebrush, 

grasslands, and meadows.

Lewis’s woodpecker Melanerpes lewis S Rivers, streams, coniferous forest, 

lower montane woodlands.

Mountain quail Oreotyx pictus S Chaparral, conifer forests, lower 

montane woodlands, and 

sagebrush.

Flammulated owl Otus flammeolus S Montane forest, usually open 

conifer forests containing pine, 

with some brush or saplings.

Vesper sparrow Pooecetes gramineus S Plains, prairie, dry shrublands, 

savanna, weedy pastures, fields, 

sagebrush, arid scrub and 

woodland clearings.

Red-naped sapsucker Sphyrapicus nuchalis S Primarily coniferous forest that 

includes aspen and other 

hardwoods.

Mammals

Pygmy rabbit Brachylagus idahoensis S Sagebrush.

Townsend’s big-eared bat Corynorhinus townsendii S Mines and caves in lower 

montane woodland.

Spotted bat Euderma maculatum S Cliffs, canyons, mines, caves, and 

developed landscapes.

Small-footed myotis Myotis ciliolabrum S Developed landscapes, cliffs, 

canyons, caves, mines, agricultural 

lands, lower montane woodlands, 

sagebrush, desert scrub, and 

coniferous forest.

Long-eared myotis M. evotis S Mostly forested areas, especially 

those with broken rock outcrops; 

also shrubland, over meadows 

near tall timber, along wooded 

streams, over reservoirs. Often 

roosts in buildings, also in hollow 

trees, mines, caves, and fissures.

Fringed myotis M. thysanodes S Caves, mines, developed 

landscapes, desert scrub, and

lower montane woodland.

Long-legged myotis M. volans S Primarily in montane coniferous 

forests; also riparian and desert 

habitats. Uses caves and mines as 

hibernacula.

Pallid bat Antrozous pallidus S Arid deserts and grasslands, often 

near rocky outcrops and water.

Silver-haired bat Lasionycleris noctivagans S Prefers forested (frequently 

coniferous) areas adjacent to lakes, 

ponds, and streams. During 

migration, sometimes occurs in 

xeric areas.

Desert bighorn sheep Ovis Canadensis nelsoni S Desert scrub, cliffs, canyons, and 

barren landscapes.
Appendix D 

May 2010 Winnemucca District Office – Draft RMP/EIS 5 

Common Name Scientific Name State of 

Nevada

Preferred Habitat

Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus S Various wooded and semi-open 

habitats, including cities. Much 

more abundant in regions 

dominated by deciduous forest 

than in coniferous forest areas. 

Greater western mastiff bat Eumops perotis californicus S Arid and semiarid areas; roosts in 

crevices and shallow caves on the 

sides of cliffs and rock walls, and 

occasionally buildings.

Allen’s lappet-browed (bigeared) bat

Idionycteris phyllotis S Primarily mountainous wooded 

areas but also riparian woodland. 

Typically found near cliffs, 

boulders, and lava flows. 

Hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus S Rivers, streams, agricultural lands, 

and lower montane woodlands.

California leaf nosed bat Macrotus californicus S Desert scrub, cliffs, canyons, 

caves, mines, and developed 

landscapes.

California myotis Myotis californicus S Cliffs, conifer and hardwood 

forest, grasslands shrubland. 

Hibernates in caves, mines, 

tunnels, or buildings.

Little brown myotis M. lucifugus S Developed landscapes, caves, 

mines, lakes, and reservoirs.

Fringed myotis M. thysanodes S Primarily in desert, grassland, and 

woodland habitats. Roosts in 

caves, mines, rock crevices, 

buildings, and other protected 

sites.

Cave myotis M. velifer S Cliffs, canyons, caves, and mines.

Big free-tailed bat Nyctinomops macrotis S Rocky areas in rugged country. 

Roosts in rock crevices (vertical 

or horizontal) in cliffs; also in 

buildings caves, and occasionally 

tree holes. 

Brazilian free-tailed bat Tadarida brasiliensis S Cliffs, caves, grasslands, 

shrubland, developed landscapes, 

and conifer woodlands.

Source: NatureServe 2007; Wildlife Action Plan Team 2006 

Status: 

BLM

S = Sensitive 

Plants 

CE = Critically endangered 

CY = Protected as a Cactus, Yucca, or Christmas tree 
Appendix D 

May 2010 Winnemucca District Office – Draft RMP/EIS 6 

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