Wood Storks Rebound, but Wetlands Protections Rollback Raises Concerns

Once endangered, the native wood stork has recovered, but the removal of federal protections could threaten its long-term survival.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The wood stork, the only stork species native to North America, has made a remarkable comeback after being placed on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species list in 1984. Thanks to conservation efforts, the wood stork population has rebounded, leading the agency to delist the species in 2023. However, the delisting also removes a layer of protection for the wetlands identified as the bird's critical habitat, raising concerns among environmental advocates about the potential impact on the stork's future.

Why it matters

The wood stork's recovery is a conservation success story, but the removal of federal protections for its wetland habitat comes at a time when wetlands are facing increasing threats from proposed policy changes. This could jeopardize the long-term survival of the wood stork, which relies on the rhythm of tides and healthy wetlands to thrive.

The details

Wood storks first adapted to the tides of the Florida Everglades, but decades of habitat fragmentation due to ditch-digging decimated the species to just a quarter of its population of up to 5,000 nesting pairs. In 1984, the wood stork was placed on the endangered species list. Over the decades, the species has made a comeback, expanding its range from Georgia to as far north as North Carolina and as far west as Alabama. Last year, Georgia documented a state record count of nearly 3,000 wood stork nests across 30 or so colonies, leading to the species' delisting in 2023.

  • In 1984, wood storks were placed on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species list.
  • In 1965, the first four wood stork nests were spotted on Blackbeard Island in Georgia.
  • In 2021, the wood stork population surpassed the threshold of 10,000 breeding pairs required for delisting.
  • In 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to delist the wood stork species.
  • In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Sackett vs. EPA that the Clean Water Act covers wetlands only when they have a continuous surface connection to traditionally navigable waters.

The players

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

The federal agency responsible for managing and protecting the nation's fish, wildlife, and natural habitats, including the decision to list and delist the wood stork as an endangered species.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

The state agency that documented the record count of nearly 3,000 wood stork nests in Georgia last year.

Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC)

A non-profit organization that advocates for environmental protection, expressing concerns about the impact of the wood stork's delisting on wetlands.

Ramona McGee

The Wildlife Leader at the Southern Environmental Law Center.

Terah Boyd

A spokesperson for the Southern Environmental Law Center.

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What they’re saying

“This delisting comes at a time when species face a storm of proposed federal rollbacks to habitat protections. This drastic loss of wetlands protection will have a negative impact on the wood stork's chances of survival.”

— Ramona McGee, Wildlife Leader, Southern Environmental Law Center (Southern Environmental Law Center)

“This move is short-sighted, especially with the loss of wetlands protections.”

— Terah Boyd, Spokesperson, Southern Environmental Law Center (Southern Environmental Law Center)

“A lot of colonies just kind of blink in and out depending on water levels in a given year.”

— Timothy Keyes, Wildlife Biologist, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (savannahnow.com)

“Will this translate to a loss of colonies? I think that's what the 10-year monitoring would hope to answer.”

— Timothy Keyes, Wildlife Biologist, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (savannahnow.com)

What’s next

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners, including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, will continue to monitor the wood stork population for the next decade to assess the impact of the delisting and potential loss of wetlands protections.

The takeaway

The wood stork's recovery is a conservation success story, but the removal of federal protections for its wetland habitat comes at a time when wetlands are facing increasing threats. This could jeopardize the long-term survival of the wood stork, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and protection of critical natural habitats.