1. Endangered Species

2. What is an Endangered Species?
Endangered species are species of plants or animals that are so few in numbers, or declining so quickly that they may soon become extinct.

3. Extinct?
An animal or plant is considered extinct when no members of the species or family are in exsistance. The entire species has died out. Remember the dinosaurs?

4. How do animals become Endangered?
Hunting, trapping, and poisoning to protect livestock.
Over harvesting is currently threatening species worldwide.
A large number of species are threatened by introduced species or exotics, as well as the by development of land.

5. Do you know any Endangered Animals found in North America?
Here are a few…

6. Choose an Endangered Species
The next several slides will introduce you to just a few of the Endangered Species in our world. As we go through these slides together, you may choose one of these endangered species you would like to learn more about. Write down the name of the species. You will need it later.
Enjoy the Species Show!

7. Manatees in Blue Springs, Florida (video)
There are currently three species of manatees on the “red list:” The Amazonian Manatee, The West African Manatee, and the West Indian Manatee, which in native to the south eastern United States, especially Florida.
The last aerial survey of the Florida manatee population was done in January, The survey showed a population count of 3,807 manatees. Although this is a promising indicator of the manatees’ recovery, continued efforts must be made to save the species.
Manatees in Blue Springs, Florida (video)

8. In 2008, in the state of Florida alone, 99 manatees were killed by collisions with watercraft!! As a result, many manatee calves die, as well, because of the loss of their mothers!

9. Owls
2 types of owls found in North America are on the endangered species list. Still others are considered threatened.

10. Owls Mexican Spotted Owl Date First Listed: April 15, 1993
Northern Spotted Owl
Date First Listed: June 26, 1990
Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
Date First Listed: March 10, 1997

11. There are at least 7 different species of wild cats of North and Central America on the Endangered Species List.

12. CATS
Once found here in the United States (California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Florida), this cat was hunted to extinction here in the late 1940s. Today, it is found in Mexico, but swiftly declining and Central America, and the strongest populations being found in Brazil; The Pantanal, Bolivia and Paraguay, Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. 
Currently, there are 292 jaguars known to be living in the wild.
Jaguar

13. O C E L O T
                            
Once found in many areas of southern North America, Central America and much of South America - today the animal has almost disappeared form its range in the southern states of North America are threatened by the conversion of large areas of plains into farm land - it is reported that as few as 120 ocelot survive in Texas today. In Central America and the northern countries of South America, the ocelot is still to be found in forested areas but is at risk through hunting for its fur and also through trapping for the pet trade.

14. Florida Panther
Originally from western Texas and throughout the southeastern states; now found only in Florida.
Habitat loss because of human development and population growth, collision with vehicles, parasites, feline distemper, feline calicivirus (an upper respiratory infection), and other diseases.
Population: Only 50 to 70 individuals survive today.

15. Cougar populations are vanishing from large areas throughout the Western Hemisphere. As humans move into established cougar territories for agricultural and residential purposes, negative human/cougar encounters increase. Cougars consider livestock and pet animals as prey. Cougar attacks escalate as humans build homes and recreate in once remote cougar habitat. As a result, these predators are increasingly viewed as dangerous pests that must be exterminated. To control their numbers, some states allow cougars to be legally hunted with the use of dogs.
The removal of cougars, however, has a detrimental effect on nature’s intricate balance. Where cougars are eliminated, populations of prey animals (such as deer) expand. As prey numbers increase, limited vegetation is soon overgrazed. As adequate food supplies diminish, deer and other prey animals starve at massive levels. At the human level, animals that were once eaten by cougars and other predators destroy crops.
Puma

16. Date First Listed: March 24, 2000
Lynx
There is 1 lynx species of North America on the Endangered Species List
Canada Lynx
Date First Listed: March 24, 2000

18. Bears There are currently 2 bear species on the endangered species list
Mexican Grizzly Bear
Date First Listed:
June 2, 1970
Black Bear
Date First Listed:
January 7, 1992

19. Wolves There are currently 2 wolf species on the endangered species list
Gray Wolf
Date First Listed: March 11, 1967

20. Wolves Red Wolf Date First Listed: March 11, 1967 Mexican Wolf

21. Date First Listed: June 2, 1970
Whales
There are 7 whale species of North America on the Endangered Species List
The Blue Whale
Date First Listed: June 2, 1970

22. Seals
There are 3 seal species of North America on the Endangered Species List
The Hawaiian Monk Seal
Date First Listed: Nov. 23, 1976

23. Date First Listed: Sept. 25, 1975
Crocodile
There is 1 crocodile species of North America on the Endangered Species List
American Crocodile
Date First Listed: Sept. 25, 1975

24. Ferret Black-Footed Ferret Date First Listed: March 11, 1967
There is 1 ferret species of North America on the Endangered Species List
Black-Footed Ferret
Date First Listed:
March 11, 1967

25. There are two species of North America on the Endangered Species List
Falcon
There are two species of North America on the Endangered Species List
Peregrine Falcon
Date First Listed:
Aug. 25, 1999

26. Date First Listed: June 2, 1970
Prairie Dog
There is 1 prairie dog species of North America on the Endangered Species List
Mexican Prairie Dog
Date First Listed: June 2, 1970

27. Sea Otter
There is 1 sea otter species of North America on the Endangered Species List
Southern Sea Otter
Date First Listed: Jan. 14, 1977

28. Date First Listed: July 28, 1978
Sea Turtle
There are 5 species turtles of North America on the Endangered Species List
Green Sea Turtle
Date First Listed: July 28, 1978

29. Swift Fox
There are 5 fox species of North America on the Endangered Species List
Swift Fox
Date First Listed:
June 2, 1970

30. Help Save Our Endangered Species
You have just met a few of the endangered species in our world.
Next, you will research the species you are interested in and report back to the class about your species.
Enjoy your quest!

31. Resources www. npca. org www. bigcatrescue. org www. savethemanatee
Resources