The Legacy and Future of the Endangered Species Act

Disclaimer:  Like any good legislation, The Endangered Species Act is a dynamic law with the intended beneficiaries constantly changing.  The data for this blog was obtained directly from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service at time of writing and is subject to change.

I’m wrapping up Endangered Species Month at The Whisker Chronicles with some editorial comments.  Shortly after starting The Whisker Chronicles, I made a decision that I would no longer explain to readers why they should care about animals or the environment.  Generally, if you are reading my blog or any other conservation focused material, you do not require persuasion.  However, the main reason I adopted this policy is simple-if the species exists, by birthright it deserves protection.  The anthropocentric concept that all other life forms must yield to the insatiable demands of humans is flawed at best, selfish at worst.  How lazy are we, in the developed world, if we think that destruction is the only way to reach the best outcome for all involved?  I reject that concept and will not have the focus of my writing to be that of persuading anyone as to the direct human benefits received from plant and animal life.  I will mention the vicarious benefits when relevant, and only in context of an entire ecosystem within which humans are one of many residents.  There is another exception as well.  When the ravages of the developed world adversely affect humans in the undeveloped world, I will most assuredly elaborate on why we should care.

The Endangered Species Act has endured and survived many anthropocentric challengers over the past four decades.  No doubt, it will face and endure many more.  I challenge all who read this to be an outspoken supporter and keep an eye out for political news of threats from those who would have this highly successful and effective legislation dismembered and gutted.  Democracy requires the voice of the people to remain loud and strong, leaving no question about what we wish to protect and preserve.  You may determine how to contact your U.S. House representative here http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ and your U.S. Senate representative here http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

The Endangered Species Act has its naysayers, but those are mostly people with financial interests who want to develop areas where the lands, and therefore the plant and animal residents, are protected.  Those people have not read the success stories of the Endangered Species Act because they do not care or they cannot comprehend the achievement of their goals without destruction of life.  So here is a summary of the depth and breadth of the Endangered Species Act, just in case some of those people stumble upon my blog. (Be sure to scroll all the way down and watch the U.S. Fish and Wildlife video as well.)

Total Number of Plant and Animal Species Currently Listed Under the Endangered Species Act:

The First Species Listed as Endangered Were:

Mammals

• Indiana Bat – Myotis sodalis
• Delmarva Peninsula Fox      Squirrel – Sciurus niger      cinereus
• Timber Wolf – Canis lupus      lycaon
• Red Wolf – Canis niger
• San Joaquin Kit Fox – Vulpes      macrotis mutica
• Grizzly Bear – Ursus      horribilis
• Black-footed Ferret – Mustela      nigripes
• Florida Panther – Felis concolor      coryi
• Caribbean Monk Seal – Monachus      tropicalis
• Guadalupe Fur Seal – Arctocephalus      philippi townsendi
• Florida Manatee or Florida      Sea Cow – Trichechus manatus latirostris
• Key Deer – Odocoileus      virginianus clavium
• Columbian White-tailed Deer –      Odocoileus virginianus leucurus
• Sonoran Pronghorn – Antilocapra      americana      sonoriensis

Birds

• Hawaiian Dark-Rumped Petrel –      Pterodroma phaeopygia sandwichensis
• Hawaiian Dark-rumped Petrel –      Pterodroma phaeopygia sandwichensis
• Hawaiian Goose (Nene) – Branta      sandvicensis
• Aleutian Canada Goose – Branta      canadensis leucopareia
• Tule White-Fronted Goose – Anser      albifrons gambelli
• Laysan Duck – Anas      laysanensis
• Hawaiian Duck (or Koloa) – Anas      wyvilliana
• Mexican Duck – Anas diazi
• California Condor – Gymnogyps      californianus
• Florida Everglade Kite      (Florida Snail Kite) – Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus
• Hawaiian Hawk (or Ii) – Buteo      solitarius
• Southern Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus      t. leucocephalus
• Attwater’s Greater      Prairie-Chicken – Tympanuchus cupido attwateri
• Masked Bobwhite – Colinus      virginianus ridgwayi
• Whooping Crane – Grus americana
• Yuma Clapper Rail – Rallus      longirostris yumanensis
• Hawaiian Common Gallinule – Gallinula      chloropus sandvicensis
• Eskimo Curlew – Numenius      borealis
• Puerto Rican Parrot – Amazona      vittata
• American Ivory-billed      Woodpecker – Campephilus p. principalis
• Hawaiian Crow ( or Alala) – Corvus      hawaiiensis
• Small Kauai Thrush (Puaiohi)      – Phaeornia pulmeri
• Nihoa Millerbird – Acrocephalus      kingi
• Kauai Oo (or Oo Aa) – Moho      braccatus
• Crested Honeycreeper (or      Akohekohe) – Palmeria dolei
• Akiapolaau – Hemignathus      wilsoni
• Kauai      Akialoa – Hemignathus procerus
• Kauai      Nukupuu – Hemignathus lucidus hanapepe
• Laysan Finchbill (Laysan      Finch) – Psittirostra c. cantans
• Nihoa Finchbill (Nihoa Finch)      – Psittirostra cantans ultima
• Ou – Psittirostra      psittacea
• Palila – Psittirostra      bailleui
• Maui      Parrotbill – Pseudonestor xanthophyrys
• Bachman’s Warbler – Vermivora      bachmanii
• Kirtland’s Warbler – Dendroica      kirtlandii
• Dusky Seaside Sparrow – Ammospiza      nigrescens
• Cape       Sable Sparrow – Ammospiza mirabilis

Reptiles and Amphibians:

• American Alligator – Alligator      mississippiensis
• Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard – Crotaphytus      wislizenii silus
• San Francisco Garter Snake – Thamnophis      sirtalis tetrataenia
• Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander – Ambystoma      macrodactylum croceum
• Texas Blind Salamander – Typhlomolge      rathbuni
• Black Toad, Inyo County Toad      – Bufo exsul

Fishes:

• Shortnose sturgeon – Acipenser      brevirostrum
• Longjaw Cisco – Coregonus      alpenae
• Paiute Cutthroat Trout – Salmo      clarki seleniris
• Greenback Cuttthroat Trout – Salmo      clarki stomias
• Montana Westslope Cutthroat Trout – Salmo      clarki
• Gila Trout – Oncorhynchus      gilae
• Arizona (Apache) Trout – Oncorhynchus      apache
• Desert Dace – Eremichthys      acros
• Humpback Chub – Gila cypha
• Little Colorado Spinedace – Lepidomeda      vittata
• Moapa Dace – Moapa      coriacea
• Colorado       River Squawfish – Ptychocheilus lucius
• Cui-ui – Chasmistes cujus
• Devils Hole Pupfish – Cyprinodon      diabolis
• Commanche Springs Pupfish – Cyprinodon      elegan
• Owens       River Pupfish – Cyprinodon radiosus
• Pahrump Killifish – Empetrichythys      latos
• Big Bend      Gambusia – Gambusia gaigei
• Clear Creek Gambusia – Gambusia      heterochir
• Gila Topminnow – Poeciliopsis      occidentalis
• Maryland Darter – Etheostoma sellare
• Blue Pike – Stizostedion      vitreum glaucum

Plant and Animal Species Currently Proposed for Listing (53):

Plant and Animal Species that are Candidates for Listing (145): 

 Plant and Animal Species That Have Been Delisted and Why:  

Plant and Animal Species That Have Been Reclassified:

The United States Fish and Wildlife has produced a short video summary of the success of the Endangered Species Act, legislation that I personally hope will continue to extend its embrace to a multitude of plant and animals species for decades to come.

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