How does a species become endangered? | JUST THE FAQS

Summary

Species worldwide are becoming extinct faster than at any time in human history. A 2019 United Nations finding estimated that 1 million species were threatened with extinction. Contributing causes include habitat destruction, human conflict, pollution and poisoning, overhunting and overfishing, climate change, invasive species, and disease.

In the United States, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), enacted in 1973, provides for listing and protecting endangered and threatened species and supporting their restoration. As of 2019, more than 1,600 species were protected under the act. The video states that 99% of listed species had been brought back from the brink of extinction.

The bald eagle is one example. After poaching and poisoning reduced its population to about 400 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states in 1963, conservation efforts helped its numbers rise to more than 71,000. The video also names the California condor, black-footed ferret, and Hawaiian monk seal as species that might otherwise have been lost.

How a Species Is Considered for Listing

• Endangered means a species is in danger of extinction.
• Threatened means a species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future.
• A species must meet specific criteria for listing. One example is the destruction of a large portion of its habitat.
• The listing process involves research and review. It is intended to take two years, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service takes an average of 12 years to reach a decision.
• In 2019, the agency had a backlog of more than 500 species awaiting decisions.

Researchers and Sources Featured

• United Nations (UN)
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Endangered Species Act (ESA)