Wildlife Species in Tennessee

Tennessee Biodiversity

Today, Tennessee is one of the most biodiverse states in the nation. Currently, there are more than 325 species of fish, 89 mammals, 61 reptiles, 70 amphibians, and 340+ birds known to inhabit or migrate through Tennessee. The number of invertebrate species, many of which are endemic to Tennessee, is equally impressive, with 256 land snails, 99 aquatic snails, 120+ mussels, 77 crayfish, and a multitude of insects. There are also more than 2,300 varieties of plants.

Conservation funding through Game Species

Conserving Tennessee's biodiversity in the wake of economic growth and ever-changing landscapes requires funding at the state and federal levels. Traditionally, conservation funding has been raised through hunting fees for game species. Although conservation of game species has been very successful, such as our Elk Reintroduction, many nongame species are without dedicated conservation funding and therefore, at risk of becoming rare, threatened, or endangered.  

Conservation funding for Non-Game Species

Recognition of the gap in conservation funding and the associated risks to nongame wildlife led to the introduction of the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Act (WCRP) and the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) programs. Together, WCRP and SWG provided allocated funds to Tennessee.  Tennessee's State Wildlife Action Plan. These funds have been used for such projects as habitat and species restoration and protection, research on life history requirements, threat assessments, support for a mussel restoration facility, species surveys, and database and GIS development.