U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Teacher’s · PDF file · 2015-03-13important...

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

January 1998 June 1998

Teacher’s PacketTo Help Teachers andStudents Learn More AboutEndangered Species

threatened deserttortoise (Gopherusagassizii)By Karen DayBoylan


January 1998

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILDhttp://www.fws.gov/r9endspp/endspp.html

June 1998

Want more information on a particular Fishand Wildlife Service office, a localendangered species or endangered speciesrecovery efforts near you? Please contact theRegional Office which handles the State(s)which you are interested in. If they can nothelp you, they will gladly direct you to thenearest local Service office, NationalWildlife Refuge, or in the direction you need.

Region OneEastside Federal Complex911 N.E. 11th AvenuePortland OR 97232-4181503/231 6118http://www.r1.fws.gov

Regional Director: Michael J. Spear

Jurisdiction: California, Hawaii, Idaho,Nevada, Oregon, Washington, American Samoa,Commonwealth of the Northern MarianaIslands, Guam and the Pacific TrustTerritories

Region TwoP.O. Box 1306500 Gold AvenueAlbuquerque, NM 87103505/248 6282http://sturgeon.irm1.r2.fws.gov

Regional Director: Nancy Kaufman

Jurisdiction: Arizona, New Mexico,Oklahoma, and Texas

Region ThreeBishop Henry Federal BuildingOne Federal DriveFt. Snelling, MN 55111-4056612/713 5301http://www.fws.gov/r3pao

Regional Director: William F. Hartwig

Jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan,Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin

Regional Offices

Region Four1875 Century BoulevardSuite 200Atlanta, GA 30345404/679 7086http://www.fws.gov/r4eao

Regional Director: Sam Hamilton

Jurisdiction: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. VirginIslands

Region Five300 Westgate Center DriveHadley, MA 01035413/253 8659http://www.fws.gov/r5fws

Regional Director: Ronald E. Lambertson

Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine,Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, RhodeIsland, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia

Region SixP.O. Box 25486Denver Federal CenterDenver CO 80225303/236 7920http://www.r6.fws.gov

Regional Director: Ralph O. Morgenweck

Jurisdiction: Colorado, Kansas, Montana,Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,and Wyoming

Region Seven1011 E. Tudor RoadAnchorage, AK 99503907/786 3542http://www.r7.fws.gov

Regional Director: David B. Allen

Jurisdiction: Alaska

Washington D.C. OfficeDivision of Endangered Species(MS-452 ARLSQ)1849 C Street, NWWashington, DC 20240703/358 2390http://www.fws.gov/r9endspp/endspp.html

Director: Jamie Rappaport Clark


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June 1998

Protecting Endangered Species HelpsProtect a Healthy Environment.

n A healthy environment for wildlifecontributes to a healthy environment for people,today and tomorrow.

n Protecting endangered species andbiodiversity saves species that may becomeimportant sources of new drugs, medicines, orfoods.

n Endangered species are Nature’s “911”, anearly warning system for pollution andenvironmental degradation that may somedayaffect human health.

n Endangered species are linked toenvironmental quality (for example,endangered mussels are indicators of poorwater quality).

Why Save Species?Because protecting endangeredspecies protects us.

Protecting Endangered Species HelpsSustain the Local Economy and Provides aGood Quality of Life.

n States and localities with healthyenvironments attract residents and businessesinterested in a good quality of life for theiremployees.

n Healthy environments sustain a variety ofjobs (for example, commercial fishing,tourism, outdoor equipment and clothing. Lossof forests and degradation of rivers andstreams causes job losses for fishers.)

n Unhealthy environments cost money (forexample, loss of wetlands can increase floodingand cost millions in flood losses).

n Americans spent $87.8 billion on fish andwildlife-related recreation in 1996.

n Environmental regulations can help protectprivate property rights, because what yourneighbor does on his or her property can affectyour property.

n Some localities celebrate their endangeredspecies to attract tourist revenue (for example,the Texas Tropics Nature Festival in McAllen,TX, is estimated to bring in nearly half amillion dollars to the local economy).

n Look for local examples in your areasthat illustrate how protective measuresfor endangered species have contributed toa healthy economy based on a healthyenvironment.

Protecting Endangered Species is aFundamental American Value.

n Stewardship for the land and wildlife is a partof the American tradition, from PresidentTheodore Roosevelt to the writings of Thoreauand Aldo Leopold.

n Protecting endangered species saves a part ofAmerica’s natural legacy which we will leavefor future generations to enjoy.

n Major religious organizations have endorsedprotecting endangered species because theybelieve in protecting divine creation.

n Americans never turn away from somethingthat is worth doing, like saving endangeredspecies, just because it might be tough. They areproud of saving the bald eagle and look forwardto other successes. They do not like failures andmany Americans regret losses of importantparts of our natural heritage, like the extinctionof the passenger pigeon. This attitude wassummed up best by a child who wrote: “Whysave endangered species? Because we can.”

endangeredKnowlton’s cactus

(Pediocactusknowltonii)by Robert J.Savannah


January 1998


June 1998

Awareness and Understanding—You and Your Community

n “Adopt” an endangered species native to yourarea, find out how you can help conserve it, andinform the citizens in your community aboutyour adopted plant of animal with speeches,newspaper articles, brochures, buttons, signs,videos, etc.

n Start a school newspaper to tell others aboutendangered species.

n Produce Public Service announcementsabout environmental issues you care about anddistribute them to the media.

n Conduct a community awareness survey.Write a newspaper column for a local paper toeducate members of the community abouttheir environment.

n Sponsor an environmental seminar ordebate for both students and the community.Topics could include endangered species,water quality, recycling, composting, andenvironmental alternatives to harmfulpractices.

n Identify causes of erosion. Develop anddistribute a stream or watershed protectionguide.

You and Your SchoolWhat you can do to help conserverare, threatened, and endangeredspecies and their habitats

Habitat Restoration

n Hold a school Arbor Day tree planting.Invite local officials.

n Replant riverbanks, under supervision,with native plants to anchor the soil andprovide wildlife habitat.

n Adopt a stream, wetland or watershed.Monitor water quality and the health of localplants and animals. Distribute yourfindings.

n Participate in river cleanups.

n Plant a garden on your school grounds toattract wildlife, birds, and butterflies.

n Build homes for bats and birds, and havethe project certified by National WildlifeFederation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitatprogram.

n Adopt an area of your school’splayground, and then develop a plan toimprove it.

n Conduct a public awareness campaign onthe threats of non-native, invasive or exoticspecies. Under proper supervision,participate in native plant habitatrestoration projects.

Sustainable Use of Earth’s Resources

n Conduct a school energy audit.Brainstorm ways the school could lowerenergy use.

n Challenge other schools in yourcommunity to an energy conservationcontest.

n Establish a school energy committee.Read energy conservation tips duringmorning announcements.

n Conduct a waste audit at school andidentify materials that can be recycled orre-used.

n Establish a school organic garden, andteach others the techniques you’ve learned.

n Participate in an annual bird count.

endangeredred-cockaded

woodpecker(Picoides borealis)

by Robert J.Savannah


January 1998

ESA BasicsOver 25 years of protectingendangered species

IntroductionWhen the Endangered Species Act (ESA)was passed in 1973, it representedAmerica’s concern about the decline ofmany wildlife species around the world. It isregarded as one of the most comprehensivewildlife conservation laws in the world.

The purpose of the ESA is to conserve “theecosystems upon which endangered andthreatened species depend” and to conserveand recover listed species. Under the law,species may be listed as either“endangered” or “threatened”. Endangeredmeans a species is in danger of extinctionthroughout all or a significant portion of itsrange. Threatened means a species is likelyto become endangered within theforeseeable future. All species of plants andanimals, except pest insects, are eligible forlisting as endangered or threatened.

As of December 31, 1997, 1,125 U.S. speciesare listed, of which 457 are animals and 668are plants. The list includes both U.S. andforeign species and covers mammals, birds,reptiles, amphibians, fishes, snails, clams/mussels, crustaceans, insects, arachnids,and plants. Groups with the most listedspecies are (in order) plants, birds, fishes,mammals, and clams/mussels.

to receive appropriations while Congressconsiders reauthorization, allowingconservation actions for threatened andendangered species to continue.

The ESAThe Endangered Species Act is a complexlaw with a great deal of built-in flexibility.Some basics of the law include:

PurposeWhen Congress passed the EndangeredSpecies Act in 1973, it recognized that many ofour nation’s native plants and animals were indanger of becoming extinct. They furtherexpressed that our rich natural heritage was of“esthetic, ecological, educational, recreational,and scientific value to our Nation and itspeople.” The purposes of the Act are to protectthese endangered and threatened species and toprovide a means to conserve their ecosystems.

Federal AgenciesAll federal agencies are to protect species andpreserve their habitats. Federal agencies mustutilize their authorities to conserve listedspecies and make sure that their actions do notjeopardize the continued existence of listedspecies. The FWS and the National MarineFisheries Service work with other agencies toplan or modify federal projects so that they willhave minimal impact on listed species andtheir habitat.

Working with StatesThe protection of species is also achievedthrough partnerships with the States. Section 6of the law encourages each State to develop andmaintain conservation programs for residentfederally-listed threatened and endangeredspecies. Federal financial assistance and asystem of incentives are available to attractState participation. Some State laws andregulations are even more restrictive ingranting exceptions or permits than thecurrent ESA.

threatened bald eagle(Haliaeetusleucocephalus)by Karen Day Boylan

The law is administered by the InteriorDepartment’s U.S. Fish and WildlifeService (FWS) and the CommerceDepartment’s National Marine FisheriesService. The FWS has primaryresponsibility for terrestrial and freshwaterorganisms, while the National MarineFisheries Service’s responsibilities aremainly for marine species such as salmonand whales.

Legislative HistoryThe 1973 Endangered Species Act replacedearlier laws enacted in 1966 and 1969, whichprovided for a list of endangered species butgave them little meaningful protection. The1973 law has been reauthorized seven times andamended on several occasions, most recently in1988. The Endangered Species Act was due forreauthorization again in 1993, but legislation toreauthorize it has not yet been enacted. TheEndangered Species program has continued

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Local InvolvementThe protection of federally listed species onFederal lands is the first priority of the FWS,yet, many species occur partially, extensivelyor, in some cases, exclusively on private lands.Policies and incentives have been developed toprotect private landowners’ interests in theirlands while encouraging them to manage theirlands in ways that benefit endangered species.Much of the progress in recovery ofendangered species can be attributed topublic support and involvement.

ListingSpecies are listed on the basis of “the bestscientific and commercial data available.”Listings are made solely on the basis of thespecies’ biological status and threats to itsexistence. The FWS decides all listings usingsound science and peer review to ensure theaccuracy of the best available data.

Candidate SpeciesThe FWS also maintains a list of “candidate”species. These are species for which theService has enough information to warrantproposing them for listing as endangered orthreatened, but these species have not yet beenproposed for listing. The FWS works withStates and private partners to carry outconservation actions for candidate species toprevent their further decline and possiblyeliminate the need to list them asendangered or threatened.

RecoveryThe law’s ultimate goal is to “recover” speciesso they no longer need protection under theEndangered Species Act. The law provides forrecovery plans to be developed describing thesteps needed to restore a species to health.Appropriate public and private agencies andinstitutions and other qualified persons assistin the development and implementation ofrecovery plans. The Clinton Administrationhas issued new guidelines requiring theinvolvement of the public and interested“stakeholders” in recovery plans. Recoveryteams may be appointed to develop andimplement recovery plans.

ConsultationThe law requires federal agencies to consultwith the Fish and Wildlife Service to ensurethat the actions they authorize, fund, or carryout will not jeopardize listed species. In therelatively few cases where the FWSdetermines the proposed action will jeopardizethe species, they must issue a “biologicalopinion” offering “reasonable and prudentalternatives” about how the proposed actioncould be modified to avoid jeopardy to listedspecies. It is a very rare exception whereprojects are withdrawn or terminated becauseof jeopardy to a listed species.

Critical HabitatThe law provides for designation of “criticalhabitat” for listed species when judged to be“prudent and determinable”. Critical habitatincludes geographic areas “on which are foundthose physical or biological features essentialto the conservation of the species and whichmay require special managementconsiderations or protection.” Critical habitatmay include areas not occupied by the speciesat the time of listing but that are essential to theconservation of the species. Critical habitatdesignations affect only federal agency actionsor federally funded or permitted activities.

International SpeciesThe Endangered Species Act is the law thatimplements U.S. participation in theConvention on International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES), a 130-nation agreement designed toprevent species from becoming endangered orextinct because of international trade. The lawprohibits trade in listed species except underCITES permits.

ExemptionsThe law provides a process for exemptingdevelopment projects from the restrictions ofthe Endangered Species Act. This processpermits completion of projects that have beendetermined to jeopardize the survival of alisted species, if a Cabinet-level “EndangeredSpecies Committee” decides the benefits of theproject clearly outweigh the benefits ofconserving a species. Since its creation in 1978,the Committee has only been called upon fourtimes to make this decision.

Habitat Conservation PlansThis provision of the ESA is designed torelieve restrictions on private landowners whowant to develop land inhabited by endangeredspecies. Private landowners who develop andimplement an approved “habitatconservation plan” providing forconservation of the species can receive an“incidental take permit” that allows theirdevelopment project to go forward.

Definition of “Take”Section 9 of the Endangered Species Actmakes it unlawful for a person to “take” a listedspecies. The Act says “The term take means toharass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill,trap, capture, or collect or attempt to engage inany such conduct.” The Secretary of theInterior, through regulations, defined the term“harm” in this passage as “an act whichactually kills or injures wildlife. Such act mayinclude significant habitat modification ordegradation where it actually kills or injureswildlife by significantly impairing essentialbehavioral patterns, including breeding,feeding, or sheltering.”

Compliance with Other LawsThe Endangered Species Act is not the only lawto protect species of wild mammals, birds,reptiles, amphibians and fishes, clams, snails,insects, spiders, crustaceans, and plants. Thereare many other laws with enforcementprovisions to protect declining populations ofrare species and their habitat, such as theMarine Mammal Protection Act, the MigratoryBird Treaty Act, and the Anadromous FishConservation Act. The Lacey Act makes it afederal crime for any person to import, export,transport, sell, receive, acquire, possess, orpurchase any fish, wildlife, or plant taken,possessed transported or sold in violation ofany Federal, State, foreign or Indian tribal law,treaty, or regulation.

For More InformationFor additional information about threatenedand endangered species and current recoveryefforts, contact the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService at 703/358 2171 or 800/344 WILD.Additional materials and the current U.S. Listof Endangered and Threatened Wildlife andPlants is also available over the Internet at<http://www.fws.gov/r9endspp/endspp.html>.


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June 1998

Myths and Realities of theEndangered Species Act

Myth: Extinction is a “natural”process and we should not worryabout it.Reality: Extinction is a normal process, but thecurrent extinction rate is not. The environmentis changing so rapidly that species have no timeto adapt. Since the pilgrims landed at PlymouthRock 365 years ago, more than 500 NorthAmerican species have become extinct. That ismore than one species becoming extinct eachyear. Scientists estimate that naturalextinction rates are one species lost every 100years!

Myth: The Endangered Species Act iscausing loss of jobs and economicdevastation in many areas of thecountry.Reality: Economists from the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology analyzed the economicimpact of endangered species. They found thatstates with many listed species haveeconomies that were at least as healthy as thosewith very few endangered species. Even in thePacific Northwest, where logging restrictionswere imposed, in part, because of the northernspotted owl, the regional economy is booming.Three years after the curtailment of logging inFederal forests, Oregon posted its lowestunemployment rate in a generation.

Myth: Thousands of private citizenshave been prosecuted for harming orkilling endangered species, evenwhen killing occurred accidentally.Reality: Most of the people prosecuted underthe Endangered Species Act are illegalwildlife traffickers who illegally andknowingly collect rare wildlife and plants tosell for personal profit.

Myth: Many irresolvable conflicts withendangered species occur every year,stopping many valuable projects andhindering progress.Reality: Of the 225,403 projects that werereviewed from 1979 to 1996, only 37development projects were halted. That is oneproject stopped per 6,092 projects reviewed. Inmost cases, projects that were halted didproceed once the project design was modified toavoid endangering a species.

Myth: Billions of tax dollars are beingspent on endangered species.Reality: In FY 1996, the annual budget for thenationwide endangered species program wasapproximately $.06 billion. This amounts to anaverage of 23 cents per person in the UnitedStates. By comparison, Americans spent over$8.2 billion in 1992 on pets, pet food and petsupplies and the amount has grown since then(U.S. Bureau of the Census, StatisticalAbstract of the U.S. 1997).

Myth: Most endangered species areworthless, insignificant, lower forms oflife that have no value to humanity.Reality: Size and emotional appeal have nobearing on a species’ importance. Aldo Leopold,the father of wildlife management, said it wellin his book The Sand County Almanac:

“The last word in ignorance is theman who says of an animal or plant:‘What good is it?’ If the landmechanisms as a whole is good, thenevery part is good, whether weunderstand it or not. If the biota, in thecourse of aeons, has built something welike but do not understand, then who but afool would discard seemingly uselessparts? To keep every cog and wheel isthe first precaution of intelligenttinkering.”

Remember that pencillin was discovered froma mold!

Annual American Expenditures (for 1996)

$ B

illio

ns

*The World Almanac & Book of Facts 1998, K-III Reference Corp., 1997.**U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Jewelry* Cosmetics* Movie tickets* T&E species**0

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All of the plants and animals on theendangered species list got there becausethey were in serious trouble. The mostcommon threat to all endangered species isloss of habitat. But since the enactment ofthe Endangered Species Act of 1973, nearly40 percent of all the listed species have seena measure of improvement, either throughcaptive breeding, habitat rehabilitation,successful reintroduction or populationincrease. Here are a few species you mayrecognize which have been helped by thespecial protection of the EndangeredSpecies Act:

Aleutian Canada GooseNumbered between 200 and 300 when listed in1967, the population today exceeds 7,900. Foundin Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington,the species was reclassified from endangeredto threatened in 1990.

Brown PelicanThe brown pelican is considered the first avianspecies to recover from the effects of DDT andother pesticides on its nesting success. In 1985,brown pelican populations on the Atlantic Coastof the U.S. (including Florida and Alabama) hadrecovered so that the species could be removedfrom the ESA protection in that part ofits range.

Gray WhaleThe eastern population of the Pacific graywhale has doubled since it was listed; the whalenow supports a thriving whale tour business inSouthern California and was declared fullyrecovered and removed from the endangeredspecies list in 1994 by the National MarineFisheries Service.

Virginia Big-Eared BatKnown population levels of the Virginia big-eared bat have increased tenfold since thebat’s listing in 1979, from 1,300 to more than13,000 and population increases haveremained steady.

Protection from disturbance duringmigration, such as the gating of some caves,has improved the status of the bat, known toconsume their own weight in insects in asingle day.

Gray WolfThe gray wolf population has increasedsince the species’ listing as endangered in1967 for the lower 48 states, except ofMinnesota. In 1995, 31 Canadian wolveswere released into Yellowstone NationalPark, and in 1996 another 35 wolves werereleased into central Idaho. In 1997, theFish and wildlife Service announced thatsince the introduced wolves were doing sowell, no further introductions shouldbe necessary.

Small-whorled PogoniaResidential and commercial developmenthave been the primary threats to this rarepogonia. However, since the plant’s listing,State and municipal conservation efforts andprivate landowner contributions haveafforded permanent protection for thelargest-known population of this plant,allowing it to be reclassified as threatened.

Bald EagleAmerica’s national symbol was decimatedby the ingestion of DDT, habitat loss, andillegal shooting. By 1967, only 417 nestingpairs remained. Today, there are more than4,000 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states. In1995, the Fish and Wildlife Service moved toreclassify the bald eagle from endangered tothreatened throughout the lower 48 states.

Greenback Cutthroat TroutListed as endangered in 1967, the greenbackcutthroat trout was reclassified as threatenedin 1978. It has since been restored to more than40 lakes and streams in Colorado. This speciescould be removed from the list by the year 2000.

Black-Footed FerretOnce thought to be extinct, the black-footedferret was rediscovered in 1981 near Wyoming.A successful captive breeding program hasincreased the population from 18 to more than300. In 1991, a reintroduction program waslaunched in Wyoming, with later releases inArizona, Montana, and South Dakota. Now, thereare young born in the wild too!

Success Stories MadePossible by the ESA

endangered brownpelican (Pelecanusoccidentalis)by Robert Savannah


January 1998

Where Can I Find It?Beginner’s Guide to theEndangered Species Home Pagehttp://www.fws.gov/r9endspp/endspp.html

Welcome to our Home Page!

http://www.fws.gov/r9endspp/endspp.html

Information Items in Our Web SiteInclude:n the U.S. List of Endangered and ThreatenedWildlife and Plants, updated monthly;

n Species accounts and images;

n Proposed and candidate species information;

n the Boxscore, which is a count of endangeredspecies listings and recovery plans by speciesgroup;

n Maps;

n The Endangered Species Act of 1973, asamended through the 100th Congress;

n Policies;

n State counts and lists;

n Frequently asked questions;

n Contact information;

n Recovery activities;

n the Endangered Species Bulletin;

n A gallery of ecosystem photos;

n Links to other sources of information;

n “Endangered Means There’s Still Time”slide show; and

n A Kids’ Corner, featuring resource lists,activities and a teacher’s guide.

Can I Find InformationAbout Individual Species?Yes. For each species on the U.S. List ofEndangered and Threatened Wildlife andPlants (a.k.a. the List), a separate speciesprofile is available that gives informationabout range, date of listing, critical habitat,special rules, Federal Register citations,and availability of approved recovery plans.In addition, you’ll find linked files for manyspecies, containing other biological andmanagement information, images, and linksto other Web sites where additionalinformation can be found. Our goal is tohave a reference page for each endangeredand threatened species! Future plansinclude species accounts (fact sheets) for alllisted species, completion of an endangeredspecies image library, and a complete indexof recovery plan titles by species.

How Should I Begin?The best way to learn more about this newelectronic library of endangered speciesinformation is to check it out yourself. TheFWS World Wide Web address is: http://www.fws.gov. From the comfort of your owncomputer or at an Internet seat at a publiclibrary, simply use your own Internetbrowser and type

http://www.fws.gov

at the Document Location prompt. This willbring you to the Fish and Wildlife Service’sgeneral information and welcome page.Click on Endangered Species in the table.You will automatically be taken to theEndangered Species Home Page.

Can I See the List of Threatened andEndangered Species?Yes. From the Endangered Species Home Page,select Listed Species Indexes & Countsunder the Species Information section. Thenchoose from the categories: vertebrateanimals (mammals, birds, reptiles,amphibians, and fishes); invertebrate animals(clams, snails, insects, arachnids, andcrustaceans); non-flowering plants;flowering plants; or by FWS Region (Pacific,Southwest, Great-Lakes, etc).

For example, say that you are looking forinformation on the bald eagle, our national bird.Select Listed Species Indexes & Counts, thenchoose Index - Vertebrate Animals, then clickon Birds. You will be given an alphabeticallisting of birds on the U.S. list. This listindicates the lead FWS region, what thespecies’ federal status is (“E” is forendangered, “T” is for threatened, “XN” fornonessential experimental population, “E [orT] (S/A)” for similarity of appearance to alisted species, “XE” for an essentialexperimental population”), the common nameof the species, and the scientific name. You will

endangered ToothCave spider(Neoleptonetamyopica)by Karen DayBoylan

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find information on the bald eagle underEagle, bald. If you click on the scientificname, in this example: Haliaeetusleucocephalus, a profile of the bald eagle’slisting will be displayed, which includeswhen it was listed, whether there is arecovery plan for this species or not, wherethe species is likely to be found (State andother countries), and other information.Some species, such as the bald eagle, alsohave an asterisk (*) before the scientificname. If you click on the *, you will be takento what we call the “hub file” for thespecies. This file links to other sites withmaterials on this particular species such asfact pages, recovery plans, press releases,State web sites, etc.

Can I Print the List?Yes. You can print out the List as it appearson your screen (type will be very small), oryou can view and print the entire List inexactly the same format (PDF) as itappears in the official edition published bythe Government Printing Office.

To print the List or get the file in PDFformat, get to the Endangered SpeciesHome Page. Scroll down and click on TheList & Database Files for Download underthe Species Information section. Becausethe List is large, it is divided into Animals,Plants and Delisted species. The firstgrouping is to download, view and print thefile in PDF format. The second group is forprinting or downloading the List in ASCIItext format.

Looking at the List in PDF FormatTo view and print these files as they appearon the official Government Printing Officepublication, you will need to downloadAcrobat Reader software, which is availablefor free via this web page. To get AcrobatReader, click on Adobe, Inc. and followthe instructions.

Please remember, when downloading the fileto your computer, make sure when namingyour document that yougive it the PDFextension.

endangered MaunaKea silversword(Argyroxiphiumsandwicense spp.sandwicense)by Karen Day Boylan

Can I Search for a Species?If you want to go quickly to a specificspecies, there is a search capability for thisweb page. From the Endangered SpeciesHome Page, select Species Links, Accounts& Images Search from the left column.Enter either the common or scientific name.Click Search. A list of matching records willbe provided. Click in the htmlLink columnon the one which most closely resemblesyour request.

You will be taken to the file about thatparticular species. A picture will be shownif one is available. Links to other Internetsources which describe the species will alsobe provided, if available.

How Many Species Are in My State andWhich Ones?From our home page, you can also find out howmany federally-listed threatened andendangered species are in your State. To see amap with a total by state, select State Counts,under the Species Information section. A mapwill display with the current distribution offederally-listed species by State /territory.

To see which species are in a particularState, from the Species Information sectionon the Endangered Species Home Page,select State List. The list is organized byFWS Region (Pacific, Southwest, GreatLakes, etc). A list of which States are foundin that region is provided to make it easierfor you to select the region you want. Onceyou select it, then the list for each State inthat region will be displayed.

Can I Find Other Links and InformationSources?A hotlist of sites relevant to the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service’s mission, along withother search engines, is also available viaour Help page, or at “http://www.fws.gov/hotlist.html”. You may find that clicking onour endangered species Guide to OtherRelated Information is useful, too. It islocated at “http://www.fws.gov/r9endspp/sites.html”.

Reports & PlansYou can also use the Fish and WildlifeReference Service (FWRS) to request, for anominal fee, copies of reports produced byState fish and wildlife agencies. These reportsare the results of research studies supportedby Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Actand Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Actfunding. FWRS also provides access to reportsproduced by the Anadromous FishConservation Program, the EndangeredSpecies Grant Program, and the CooperativeFish and Wildlife Research Units.

Please note that endangered species recoveryplans are available through this service. Toorder a copy, follow the instructions located at“http://www.fws.gov/fwrefser.html”.

Information for Kids and TeachersThe newest feature to our home page is a KidsCorner. From this page, junior fish and wildlifebiologists, the public, and you can do aendangered species crossword puzzle, learn ofways to help save the environment, make yourown Risky Creatures game, look at or printFWS fact pages on a particular species(called biologues), check out the“Endangered Means There’s Still Time”slide show, view the Mauna Kea silverswordfamily album through the CreatureFeatures! section, and link to othereducational resource materials on the Webthrough the Hey Teachers! and Where CanI Find It? sections.

Still Confused?Still looking for specific information whichyou can’t find? Send us an e-mail message. OurInternet E-mail address is“[email protected]”. Also,please send us a message if you havesuggestions or comments regarding our homepage. We are always looking for ways to make itmore useful to you.


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OK, Junior Fish and Wildlife Biologists, it’s time to test your knowledge.

Endangered SpeciesCrossword Puzzle

ACROSS1. our national symbol, an endangered speciessuccess story

3. ultimate goal, for every species, of theEndangered Species Act

4. . . . is a word that means gone forever. Kaput.Finito.

5. word meaning a species could becomeendangered in forseeable future

7. the abbreviation for the Endangered SpeciesAct

8. troubled shellfish in America’s streams

9. loss of a species’ home, or its ________, is thebiggest threat

10. an acronym for the fish/wildlife federalagency that protects endangered species &habitats and manages the National WildlifeRefuge System

DOWN1. a new word meaning the vast variety of life inall its forms

2. word meaning “in immediate danger ofextinction”

6. these species invade, and crowd the nativespecies

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OK, you gave it your best try. Here are the answers.

7. the abbreviation for the Endangered SpeciesAct

8. troubled shellfish in America’s streams

9. loss of a species’ home, or its ________, is thebiggest threat

10. an acronym for the fish/wildlife federalagency that protects endangered species &habitats and manages the National WildlifeRefuge System

DOWN1. a new word meaning the vast variety of life inall its forms

2. word meaning “in immediate danger ofextinction”

6. these species invade, and crowd the nativespecies

Endangered SpeciesCrossword PuzzlePuzzle Answer Key

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B

R R

R

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A

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T T

T

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S S

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S S

S

C

C

C

I

I

I

I

I I

A

A A

A

A

L D

D

D

D

NN

N

W

H

H B

U

U

F

LM

N

NX

X

V

V

Y

Y

D

E A G

G

L E

EE EE

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E E

E

ACROSS1. our national symbol, an endangered speciessuccess story

3. ultimate goal, for every species, of theEndangered Species Act

4. . . . is a word that means gone forever. Kaput.Finito.

5. word meaning a species could becomeendangered in foreseeable future


January 1998


June 1998

OK, Junior Fish and Wildlife Biologists, it’s time to test your knowledge again!

Endangered SpeciesCrossword Puzzle 2

ACROSS1. “_______ Means There’s Still Time”

3. a species which is vulnerable but not yetin immediate danger of extinction

6. elected body that passes legislation suchas the Endangered Species Act

7. areas of habitat believed essential to theconservation of an endangered or threatenedspecies

8. plants and animals which are not yetproposed for listing as threatened orendangered

10. the Act’s abbreviation

DOWN2. choices in your course of action

4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologistsdetermine that a species is in __________ whena federal action would reduce the likelihood of aendangered or threatened species to survivaland recover in the wild.

5. the ultimate goal of the EndangeredSpecies Act

8. acronym for the 130-nation agreementwhich regulates the exporting and importingin endangered species of wild fauna or flora

9. the legal term for any harassing,harming, or otherwise hurting of athreatened or endangered species

1

10

3 4

5

8 9

2

7

6


January 1998


June 1998

OK, you gave it your best try. Here are the answers.

Endangered SpeciesCrossword Puzzle 2Puzzle Answer Key

ACROSS1. “_______ Means There’s Still Time”

3. a species which is vulnerable but not yetin immediate danger of extinction

6. elected body that passes legislation suchas the Endangered Species Act

7. areas of habitat believed essential to theconservation of an endangered orthreatened species

5. the ultimate goal of the EndangeredSpecies Act

8. acronym for the 130-nation agreementwhich regulates the exporting and importingin endangered species of wild fauna or flora

9. the legal term for any harassing,harming, or otherwise hurting of athreatened or endangered species

1

10

3 4

5

8 9

2

7

6

E N D A N G E R E D

L

T

E

R

N

A

T

I

V

E

S

T H R E A E N E D

C O N G E S SR

E

C

O

V

E

R

Y

R I T I C L H A B I T A T

J

E

O

P

R

D

Y

T

A

K

EE S A

C

I

T

S

A N D D A E

8. plants and animals which are not yet proposedfor listing as threatened or endangered

10. the Act’s abbreviation

DOWN2. choices in your course of action

4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologistsdetermine that a species is in __________ whena federal action would reduce the likelihood of aendangered or threatened species to survivaland recover in the wild.


January 1998


June 1998

OK, Junior Fish and Wildlife Biologists, try and find all the words listed below. Warning: Words may be backwards, upside-down and diagonal inthis word search!

Endangered SpeciesWord Find

WORDS TO FIND:amphibiansarachnidsbiodiversitybirdsclams musselsconifers

conservationcycadsendangeredfernsfishesflowering planthabitat

insectsjeopardylichensmammalsrecoveryreptilessnailsspeciesthreatened

endangeredgreen sea turtle(Chelonia mydas)By Robert J.Savannah


January 1998


June 1998

OK, Junior Fish and Wildlife Biologists, how did you do? Now, try to find a picture of each of the words listed below. Remember, you can always geton the Internet and check out our endangered species web page at <http://www.fws.gov/r9endspp/endspp.html>. We have lots of pictureson our web site for you to choose from!

Endangered SpeciesWord FindPuzzle Answer Key

WORDS TO FIND:amphibiansarachnidsbiodiversitybirdsclams musselsconifers

conservationcycadsendangeredfernsfishesflowering planthabitat

insectsjeopardylichensmammalsrecoveryreptilessnailsspeciesthreatened

endangeredgreen sea turtle(Chelonia mydas)By Robert J.Savannah


January 1998


June 1998

Are you a sagacious scientist or a laser-wittedlayperson? Barrage your brain with a battery ofbeastly biology questions bound to bolster yourblossoming knowledge! Play this game bysetting up a game board, see following page, thenchoose a category and a point value (the morepoints, the more difficult the question).

Challenge a partner to play!

Points and Questions

Category: Birds10 I am our national symbol. My recovery has

been so successful that I have beendownlisted from ‘endangered’ to ‘threatened.’What am I?

20 I am the fastest bird in the world. I can diveat 200 miles per hour! What am I?

30 I’m a large white, long-necked bird that wasdown to 20 left in 1941. Today there are about300 of us because of the help we get frompeople who care. I like to dance and migratelong distances. What am I?

40 I’m the largest North American bird. Iweigh 25 lbs and look like a vulture with my9.5 foot wing span. There are fewer than twodozen of me in the wild, but biologists areraising more of us in captivity. What am I?

50 I have a huge beak that holds lots of fish, andI love to dive out of the sky for them. I’vebeen removed from the endangered specieslist because I’ve recovered. What am I?

Category: Mammals10 I weigh about 1200 lbs and swim in

Florida’s warm waters. Earlysailors mistook me for a mermaid,but close-up I look like a walruswithout tusks. What am I?

Risky Critters!Build & Play Your Own Game

20 I am a big predatory cat that lives in theFlorida Everglades. There are only about50 of us left. What am I?

30 I travel in packs and have recently returnedto Yellowstone National Park. I’m usuallygray, but can be brown, black, white, or acombination of these colors. What am I?

40 Poachers kill this huge striped cat for itsbody parts. The bones are ground up anddried and used for medicines in Asia. Clawsare used in jewelry. Fewer than 5,000 remainworldwide. What is it?

50 Black, white, Indian or greater one-horned,Javan and Sumatran. Poachers kill me formy horn, which is carved into daggerhandles. Less than 12,000 of us huge,nearsighted herbivores are left. What am I?

Category: Crawl, Hop, Swim, and Grow10 This large reptile was nearly wiped out by

trade in its valuable skin, but has recoveredand was taken off the endangered specieslist. What is it?

20 I am slow-moving and I live in the desert. Ican live to be more than 100 years old. I

carry my shell with me, and like to

live underground where it’s cooler. What amI?

30 These amphibians have declined globally tothe point where biologists are concernedabout ozone depletion in the atmosphere.What are they?

40 Inflated heelsplitter, Arkansas fatmucket,speckled pocketbook, fine-rayed pigtoe.What are they?

50 What do more than 457 animals and 668plants have in common?

Category: Endangered! Recovered!10 If this happens, a species will be gone

forever. What is this word?

20 What is the law that protects plants andanimals that are in danger of disappearingforever?

30 What word means “any species which is indanger of extinction throughout all or asignificant part of its range”?

40 What is the ultimate goal of theEndangered Species Act?

50 What do habitat loss, introduced species,pollution, population growth, and over-consumption of resources do to fish,wildlife and plants?

endangeredgray wolf(Canis lupus)By Karen DayBoylan


January 1998


June 1998

Materials List

40 sheets of paper (8.5” x 11”)

10 transparencies/protector sheets (8.5” x11”, cut in half)

1 poster size foam core board (20” x 40”)

Tape

Questions/Answers

Risky Critters!Answers and Directions

Points and Answers

Category: Birds10 bald eagle.20 peregrine falcon.30 whooping crane.40 California condor.50 brown pelican.

Category: Crawl, Hop, Swim & Grow10 alligator.20 desert tortoise.30 frogs.40 endangered and threatened mussels.50 This is the number of species are on the

U.S. List of Endangered and ThreatenedWildlife and Plants (as of 12/31/97).

Category: Mammals10 Florida manatee.20 Florida panther.30 gray wolf.40 tiger.50 rhinoceros.

Category: Endangered! Recovered!10 extinction.20 The Endangered Species Act.30 endangered.40 recovery.50 They cause species to become endangered.

How to build your own “Risky Critters!”gameboard1. Write out the question on top half of a sheet ofpaper. Write answers on bottom half of thesheet. Fold in half.

Tape folded question/answer sheet to foam coreboard.

2. Write point value of question on top half ofanother piece of paper. Fold in half.

Tape folded point value sheet above question/answer sheet. (You could make some “doublepoint” questions by writing “double points” onbottom half of point value sheet.)

3. If using in bad weather, tape plastic protectorsheet above that (transparencies work well).

4. Arrange in same pattern as the game boardlayout (next page).

7. Have fun!

question

(fold under)

answer

side v

iew

3. Tape plastic protector sheet on top.

4. Tape all 3 sheets from one joint.

2. Then tape folded sheet withpoints on front. (You couldmake some “double point”questions by writing “doublepoints” on back.)

1. Tape folded sheet withquestion on front, answer onbottom half, to foam core board.

Foam corefold line

Side view of game board:


January 1998


June 1998

Risky Critters!Game Board

Bir

ds

Mam

mals

Craw

l, H

op,

Sw

im &

G

row

Endangered!

Recovered!

10

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40

50

10

10

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20

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50

50

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