Endangered animals in the United States

We begin this list of endangered animals in North America by talking about the gray island fox ( Urocyon littoralis catalinae ) , which you may not know, as well as several of the animals that you will see on this list.

This small canid can be found in six of the Santa Barbara Islands , an archipelago located off the Californian coast, it was listed in danger of extinction due to the fragmentation of its habitat and poaching . Currently, thanks to the recovery actions, its population has improved, although it is not out of danger, so protection efforts must be maintained.

The chara floridana ( Aphelocoma coerulescens ) is a species of passerine bird , endemic to the United States and is currently in a vulnerable state and its populations continue to decline , so it is heading to be soon in danger of extinction. It is found especially in the heaths of Florida (the only endemic in this state), an ecosystem characterized by occasional droughts, nutrient-poor soils and where forest fires occur frequently.

This species of tortoise in the Kinosternidae family is endemic to Alabama, found only in the north of the state. It is mainly threatened by environmental degradation (erosion and sedimentation) and by the fragmentation of its habitat. The flattened musk turtle ( Sternotherus depressus ) is a species little studied, perhaps due to the low number of specimens that exist and the difficulty of finding them.

The Yosemite toad ( Anaxyrus canorus ) is an amphibian belonging to the Bufonidae family, endemic to California, specifically the Sierra Nevada and is generally distributed throughout the Sierra National Forest and Yosemite National Park. Climate change, emerging pathogens and habitat deterioration are contributing to the decline in populations that are currently in danger of extinction .

The American bison ( Bison bison ) is the largest mammal in North America and is found inhabiting the plains of the continent, from northern Mexico to Canada. Surely you have seen it in many Western movies and you will know that it is an animal highly appreciated by Native Americans, however, not even the appreciation of it has made it free from being on the verge of extinction due to intensive hunting. .

The beach mouse ( Peromyscus polionotus ) , a species in the Cricetidae family, is a nocturnal rodent that inhabits cotton fields, corn fields, and sandy beaches in the southeastern United States. The destruction of its habitat due to tourist pressure and the creation of new crops are the main threat to this species.

The akohekohe ( Palmeria dolei ) is a passerine bird endemic to Hawaii, although its distribution is limited to the island of Maui. It is in critical danger of extinction due to deforestation and the introduction of alien species such as deer or feral goats, among others.

The California tawny owl ( Strix occidentalis ) is also known as the spotted owl , it is a strigiform bird that is distributed to the west of North America. Deforestation, cattle ranching and intensive agriculture threaten the species, causing its populations to decline.

The American tantalum ( Mycteria americana ) is the only stork native to North America, found in warm regions of the United States. Its population has dropped considerably, finding itself in a poor conservation situation, due to the destruction of its habitat and the interruption of the flow of water through South Florida.

The black-footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes ) belongs to the mustelidae family and is located in the central United States. The species in the wild was considered extinct in 1980 , so currently those that currently exist are in captivity, although some specimens have already been reintroduced. The threats to this species have been the bubonic plague, distemper, the reduction of the prairie dog (the main food of the ferret) and the fragmentation of its habitat.

The California condor or Californian condor ( Gymnogyps californianus ) is a species of bird found in southern Utah and northern Arizona, in the mountains of southern and central California, and northern Baja California. Poaching and the fragmentation of its habitat are reducing the number of specimens of the species, being classified in critical danger of extinction .

Here we mention other animals that are in danger of extinction in the United States.

• Yellow map turtle (Graptemys flavimaculata).
• Spotted seal (Phoca largha).
• Reddish sandpiper (Calidris canutus).
• Florida Burrowing Turtle (Gopherus polyphemus).
• Whistling Kentish ( Charadrius melodus ).
• Great plains gray wolf ( Canis lupus nubilus).

To protect and preserve species that are in danger of extinction, concrete actions must be taken to protect not only animals from actions such as illegal hunting, but also ecosystems. Since there are many anthropic activities that fragment the habitats of the species, putting them in danger. Some actions for the protection of animals in danger of extinction in the United States can be:

• Laws that regulate hunting.
• Laws that prosecute and punish species trafficking.
• Creation of more Nature Reserves .
• Promotion of the reintroduction of native species.
• Ecosystem restoration plans.
• Carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment for any modification that an ecosystem may undergo due to anthropic activity.
• An effort at the individual level to be more respectful with the environment and, thus, reduce the acceleration of climate change.