Endangered Species Questions and Answers  
 

Question: What are endangered species?
Answer: 
An Endangered species is one which is in danger of becoming extinct because only a very small number of them are left. When a plant or animal becomes extinct, it is gone forever.
Threatened species are likely to become endangered too if they are not protected.

Buying wildlife, such as wild birds, to keep as pets also endangers certain species. Many animals die during capture and transportation for sale. Then even more animals are captured for replacements. 

It's against the law to harm endangered species. People caught stealing, injuring or killing endangered and threatened species can be fined up to $20,000 or sentenced up to one year in jail.

 
 

Question: Why are they endangered?
Answer: 
Loss or pollution of habitat threatens the survival of many species. Habitat is the food, water, shelter and space that all species need in order to survive. When we build houses, factories, dams, roads, shopping centers and farms to grow food, we destroy and pollute wildlife habitat. As the world's population gets bigger, even more habitat will be used for people's needs.

 
 

Question: What kinds of things can we do?
Answers: 
 
 
 
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle! If we don't use energy wisely we have to destroy more wildlife habitat to find coal, water, oil or to build dams for energy. The U.S. population is only 5% of the world's population, but we use 35% of the world's natural resources and contribute 25% of the world's waste.
  • Create habitats for wildlife. Building bird and bat houses and planting bushes and trees are fun ways to protect wildlife.
  • Sponsor a cleanup day where you live. Plastic rings, balloons, fishing lines, and glass are some of the items that trap and injure wildlife. Maybe a video or record store could give prizes to the person who collects the most trash. Be sure to get an adult to help you collect trash safely.