• Since 1982, European signatory countries to the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife (the Bern Convention) have committed to conserving wild flora and fauna, with particular emphasis on ‘‘endangered and vulnerable’’ species and habitats.

• Following COSEWIC’s definition,we considered a “species”to be any indigenous species, subspecies, variety, or genetically or geographically distinct population of wild flora or fauna.

• However it is currently unknown if the decline is due to habitat changes (vegetation regrowth) resulting from the removal of wild horses.

• Of the birds living in the wild, only 20 were actually hatched and fledged in the wild.

• In August 1988, T. thermophilum was extirpated in the wild when diminished discharge of the native spring resulted in habitat desiccation.

• Now extirpated in the wild, the species survives as an ornamental throughout the eastern United States.