Featured Species
- Episode
- 23
Wekiu Bug (08:17)
Host: Sarah Leon with Dan Polhemus, Ph.D.
Status: Candidate/ Conservation to preclude ESA listing
Scientific Name: Nysius wekiuicola
Description: The wekiu bug is flightless insect and inhabits the summit area of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. In October 2011, the species was removed from the list of candidate species in need of Endangered Species Act protection, after conservation actions helped stabilize population numbers.
- Episode
- 22
Yaqui Chub (09:02)
Host: Sarah Leon with Bill Radkey
Status: Endangered/ Listed on August 31, 1984
Scientific Name: Gila purpurea
Description: The yaqui chub has been extirpated from its historical habitat; however, introduced populations exist in Leslie Canyon in the Swisshelm Mountains in San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, and in ponds and the mainstream of West Turkey Creek in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona.
- Episode
- 21
Decurrent False Aster (09:56)
Host: Sarah Leon with Marian Smith, Ph.D.
Status: Threatened/ Listed on November 14, 1988
Scientific Name: Boltonia decurrens
Description: Decurrent false aster is found on moist, sandy, floodplains and prairie wetlands along the Illinois River. It relies on periodic flooding to scour away other plants that compete for the same habitat. Although not very tolerant to prolonged flooding, this plant relies on periodic flooding to scour away other plants that compete for the same habitat.
- Episode
- 20
- Spotlight Species
Caseys June beetle (08:02)
Host: Sarah Leon with Alison Anderson
Status: Candidate/ Conservation to preclude ESA listing
Scientific Name:Dinacoma caseyi
Description: The only known population of Caseys June beetle occurs within the Palm Canyon Wash area in the southern part of the City of Palm Springs, California. The species is believed to occupy less than 800 acres of land.
- Episode
- 19
- Spotlight Species
Prairie Bush Clover (06:04)
Host: Sarah Leon with Phil Delphey
Status: Threatened/ Listed on January 1, 1987
Scientific Name: Lespedeza leptostachya
Description: Prair../about/ie bush clover is a federally threatened prairie plant found only in the tallgrass prairie region of four midwestern states.
- Episode
- 18
- Spotlight Species
Higgins eye pearlymussel (09:18)
Host: Sarah Leon with Phil Delphey
Status: Endangered/ Listed on June 14, 1976
Scientific Name: Lampsilis higginsii
Description: The Higgins eye is a freshwater mussel of larger rivers where it is usually found in areas with deep water and moderate currents. Its range includes the upper Mississippi River, the St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin, and the lower Rock River between Illinois and Iowa.
- Episode
- 17
- Spotlight Species
Kirtland's Warbler (12:35)
Host: Sarah Leon with Dan Elbert, Chris Mensing and Christie Deloria
Status: Endangered/ Listed on March 11, 1967
Scientific Name: Dendroica kirtlandii
Description: The Kirtland's warbler, an endangered species, is a songbird that nests in young jack pine stands. Until 1995 Kirtland's warblers had only been known to nest in the northern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Today, they also nest in the Upper Peninsula, and since 2007, have nested in Wisconsin and Canada.
- Episode
- 16
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (07:55)
Host: Sarah Leon with Greg Beatty
Status: Listed on February 27, 1995
Scientific Name: Empidonax traillii extimus
Description: Because of river flow reductions and habitat alteration and loss, the southwestern willow flycatcher teeters on the brink of extinction.
- Episode
- 15
Canada Lynx (06:41)
Host: Sarah Leon with John Organ
Status: Threatened/ Listed on March 24, 2000
Scientific Name: Lynx canadensis
Description: While their name suggests otherwise, the historic range of Canada lynx extended across the border into northern parts of the contiguous United States from Washington to Maine and down into the Rocky Mountains. Experts believe a variety of factors contributed to lynx reduced range, notably land use changes with human expansion and a warming climate as possible contributing factors. Today, their range in the United States is confined to just a handful of northern states.
- Episode
- 14
- Spotlight Species
- Recovery Champions
Wyoming Toad (06:36)
Host: Sarah Leon with Lee Bender and David Paddock
Status: Endangered/ Listed on January 17, 1984
Scientific Name: Bufo baxteri
Description: The Wyoming toad is an extremely rare amphibian that exists only in captivity and within Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming.
- Episode
- 13
- Spotlight Species
Whooping Crane (07:11)
Host: Sarah Leon with John French
Status: Endangered/ Listed on March 11, 1967
Scientific Name: Grus americana
Description: The whooping crane is one of the most, if not the most, endangered birds in North America. A combination of hunting and habitat loss nearly drove the species to extinction in the 1940s. Thanks to the hard work of federal, state, and nongovernmental groups, there are now about 250 whooping cranes living in the wild and another 150 whoopers in captivity. The USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center currently has the largest breeding flock of about 60 birds.
- Episode
- 12
- Spotlight Species
Gila Trout (09:52)
Host: Sarah Leon with Jim Brooks
Status: Threatened/ Listed on March 11, 1967
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus gilae
Description: Gila trout was extirpated from Arizona around 1900, but has recently been repatriated. Threats to the species include loss of habitat, hybridization with introduced rainbow trout, and predation by exotic brown trout.
- Episode
- 11
- Spotlight Species
Piping Plover (Great Lakes Population) (07:07)
Host: Sarah Leon with Jack Dingledine
Status: Endangered/ Listed on December 11, 1985
Scientific Name: Charadrius melodus
Description: The Great Lakes population of the piping plover was at a perilously low level. But intensive conservation efforts have seen the number of breeding pairs steadily climb from a low of 12 in 1983.
- Episode
- 10
- Spotlight Species
Desert Tortoise (09:26)
Host: Sarah Leon with Roy Averill-Murrray
Status: Threatened/ Listed on August 08, 1980
Scientific Name: Gopherus agassizii
Description: The desert tortoise is found throughout the Mojave Desert of California, Nevada, Arizona, Mexico, and Utah. Tortoises have survived in the desert for millions of years, however today they face many hurdles.
- Episode
- 09
- Spotlight Species
Swallow-Tailed Kite (05:00)
Host: Sarah Leon with Bill Brooks
Status: Species-at-Risk/ Conservation to preclude ESA listing
Scientific Name: Elanoides forficatus
Description: The rare swallow-tailed kite is considered one of the most threatened land birds currently without federal protection.
- Episode
- 08
- Spotlight Species
Florida Panther (05:38)
Host: Sarah Leon with Chris Belden
Status: Endangered/ Listed on March 11, 1967
Scientific Name: Puma concolor coryi
Description: The Florida panther is one of 30 Puma concolor subspecies known by many names—puma, cougar, mountain lion, painter, catamount and panther. The most profound and continuing threat to their survival can be traced to an increasing human population.
- Episode
- 07
- Spotlight Species
- Recovery Champion
Yellow-Billed Loon (04:10)
Host: Sarah Leon with Karen Laing
Status: Candidate/ Conservation to preclude ESA listing
Scientific Name: Gavia adamsii
Description: The yellow-billed loon is a migratory bird. Yellow-billed loons frequently drown in fishing nets and traps, and have been threatened by oil spills in their migratory and winter habitat.
- Episode
- 06
- Spotlight Species
Piping Plover (Atlantic Coast Population) (06:26)
Host: Sarah Leon with Anne Hecht
Status: Threatened/ Listed on December 11, 1985
Scientific Name: Charadrius melodus
Description: The Piping plover is a dainty, sand-colored shorebird, distinguished from other small North American plovers by its pale plumage and bright orange legs. Human activities can disturb Piping Plovers on both their breeding and wintering grounds. Beachgoers, their vehicles and pets, and nest predators, such as gulls, raccoons, foxes, and feral cats often disturb and destroy nests. Increased beach use also threatens the quality of available wintering sites.
- Episode
- 05
- Spotlight Species
Short-Tailed Albatross (07:38)
Host: Sarah Leon with Greg Balogh
Status: Endangered/ Listed on June 2, 1970
Scientific Name: Phoebastria albatrus
Description: Historically, millions of these birds bred in the western North Pacific on several islands south of the main islands of Japan. Only two breeding colonies remain active today: Torishima Island and Minami-kojima Island, Japan. The world population is currently estimated to be about 1200 birds and is increasing.
- Episode
- 04
- Spotlight Species
Houston Toad (05:47)
Host: Sarah Leon with Paige Najvar
Status: Endangered/ Listed on October 13, 1970
Scientific Name: Bufo houstonensis
Description: Habitat loss and alteration are the most serious threats facing the Houston toad. Alteration of ephemeral and permanent natural wetlands for urban and agricultural uses eliminates breeding sites. Draining a wetland, or converting an ephemeral wetland to a permanent pond, can eventually cause the Houston toad to decline or be eliminated entirely.
- Episode
- 03
- Spotlight Species
Grizzly Bear (08:22)
Host: Sarah Leon with Chris Servheen
Status: Threatened/ Originally Listed on March 11, 1967
Scientific Name: Ursus arctos horribilis
Description: Historically, there were around 50,000 grizzly bears in North America. Today, there are 1,000 - 1,200 grizzly bears remaining in five separate populations in the lower 48 states.
- Episode
- 02
- Spotlight Species
Black-Footed Ferret (05:41)
Host: Sarah Leon with Pete Gober
Status: Endangered/ Listed on March 11, 1967
Scientific Name: Mustela nigripes
Description: The black-footed ferret was considered extinct or nearly extinct when a small population was discovered in Meeteetse, Wyoming on a privately-owned ranch in 1981. Still, the black-footed ferret remains one of the most endangered mammals in North America.
- Episode
- 01
- Spotlight Species
Jesup's Milk-Vetch (05:30)
Host: Sarah Leon with Susi von Oettingen
Status:Endangered/ Listed on June 5, 1987
Scientific Name:Astragalus robbinsii jesupi
Description: Jesup's milk-vetch, an extremely rare member of the bean family, occurs only at three sites along a 15-mile stretch of the Connecticut River in New Hampshire and Vermont.
