Threatened and Endangered Species
Working to conserve and restore endangered and threatened species and their habitats
Since life began, species have come and gone. While extinctions do occur naturally, human activities have caused the highest rate of extinction. All living creatures, including people, are part of a complex network – the removal of one species can affect other species in a chain reaction.
Credit: USFWS
Success! On June 28, 2007, the bald eagle was removed
from the threatened and endangered species list. The
Chesapeake Bay now has one of the highest concentrations
of the species.To prevent further extinctions and provide protection for plants and animals and the habitats they depend upon, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was established in 1973. The key aspect of the ESA was that Congress needed to develop a list of species in need of federal protection. An “endangered” species is added to the list when it is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. A “threatened” species is added to the list when it is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. The list of endangered and threatened species includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, crustaceans, snails, insects, fishes, mussels, and plants.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is the federal agency responsible for coordinating the conservation of those plants and animals threatened with extinction. We work with other federal agencies, state and local governments, agencies, American Indian tribes, conservation organizations and private landowners to conserve endangered species and their habitat. The goal of the ESA is recover species so they no longer need protection. Much of the progress in recovery of endangered species can be attributed to support and involvement from our various partners.
How we conserve endangered species:
For more information, contact:
Endangered Species Program Manager
Mary Ratnaswamy
410/573 4541
mary_ratnaswamy.fws.gov
Ecosystem Restoration
Al Rizzo
410/573 4543
al_rizzo@fws.gov
Endangered Species
Bog Turtles
Trevor Clark
410/573 4527
trevor_clark@fws/gov
Andy Moser
410/573 4537
andy_moser@fws.gov
Tiger Beetles
Andy Moser 410/573 4537
andy_moser@fws.gov
Bald Eagles
Craig Koppie
410/573 4534
craig_koppie@fws.gov
Delmarva Fox Squirrel
Cherry Keller
410/573 4532
cherry_keller@fws.gov
Species List
Devin Ray
410/573 4542
devin_ray@fws.gov
Learn More:
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