endangered species

The iconic saguaro cactus of the American Southwest may evince an image of a lonely figure in the desert, cylindrical arms stretched out and upward toward the sky in a friendly and somewhat lonely wave. But there are many other species of cactus — more than 1,500 — and not all of them thrive in […]

With a call that has been described as that of a “tin trumpet” and making a double tap sound with its long bill, the ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) is the third largest woodpecker in the world and the largest north of Mexico, according to All About Birds. The elusive woodpecker had apparently last been seen […]

This month, the world’s largest wildlife overpass — the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing — will begin construction across a multi-lane highway at Liberty Canyon in the Santa Monica mountains. The 210-foot long, 165-foot wide green bridge will allow animals like mountain lions, coyotes, snakes and toads to safely cross U.S. Highway 101 near Los Angeles, reported The Guardian.

Documents collected via the Official Information Act in New Zealand show that commercial fishers in the area have been killing or injuring sharks to retrieve their fishing gear, including hooks that cost as little as $1. The documents come from government observers who worked to oversee commercial longline fleets in the country from 2016 to […]

A total of 127 reptiles will have stronger protections from smugglers as they have been added by Australia to a global treaty that protects against wildlife trade. The reptile species have been targets of illegal smuggling. Australia’s Environment Minister Sussan Ley has added the species to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of […]

In December of last year, Florida wildlife officials decided on an unprecedented way to try and save the state’s starving manatees: outright feeding them. Now, as the trial feeding program draws to a close with warmer weather, officials say they can count it as a success. 

When you think of endangered species, elephants, tigers, and rhinos might come to mind. While there are hundreds of species around the world that are threatened with extinction and deserve our attention, there are many animals in our own backyard with dwindling populations. Learning about these creatures is important to aiding in their conservation efforts, whether that means donating to organizations focused on endangered species in the U.S. or telling your representatives to pass laws to help protect vulnerable species.

The Sonoran Desert toad excretes a chemical that can induce a psychedelic experience so memorable that some people call it the “God molecule.” But, unfortunately, the largest native toad in the U.S. is not immortal. Conservationists are now warning that demand for the toad’s psychedelic toxin could put the species at risk.