Service Begins Commemoration of 40th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act
Photo Credit: USFWS
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will honor the 40th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act with a year-long commemoration of the Act that has been so successful in stabilizing populations of species at risk, preventing the extinction of many others and conserving the habitats upon which they depend. A new dedicated web site spotlights the history and accomplishments of efforts to protect and recover America's threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
Endangered Species Success Stories
Endangered,Threatened and Candidate Species of LA
Photo Credit: USFWS
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) delivers remarkable successes. Looking back on the ESA's 40-year history, we recognize that it has helped stabilize populations of species at risk, prevent the extinction of many others, and conserve the habitats upon which they depend. All Americans can take pride in the fact that, under the ESA, California condor, grizzly bear, Okaloosa darter, whooping crane, and black-footed ferret have all been brought back from the brink of extinction. We can also celebrate that many other species no longer need the ESA's protection and have been removed from the list of endangered and threatened species, including the bald eagle—the very symbol of our nation's strength.
Prairie Gray Fox, Plains Spotted Skunk May Warrant Protection Under the Endangered Species Act
Spotted Skunk
Photo Credit: Missouri DOC
December 5, 2012
The prairie gray fox and plains spotted skunk, two subspecies found in grasslands of some Midwestern and Great Plains states, may warrant federal protection as a threatened or endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today, following an initial review of a petition seeking to protect the two species under the Endangered Species Act.
The Service will undertake a more thorough status review of the species to determine whether to propose adding the species to the federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. The Service found that information in the petition to list the Mearn's eastern cottontail was not substantial.
