USFWS Declares Wildlife Species Extinct
On Wednesday, the US Fish and Wildlife Service declared 23 wildlife species extinct. The 23 species were on the endangered species list. Climate change and loss of habitat are the reasons cited for the species extinction. For these species, the Endangered Species Act did not come in time. These species were endangered before Congress passed the ESA. But since its enactment, the ESA has successfully prevented the extinction of 99% of the listed species. Since the inception of the ESA, fifty-four species have been removed due to recovery. And fifty-six species were downlisted from endangered to threatened status. Needless to say, the ESA is working despite this dismal report. The following chart is from the USFWS . Species proposed for delisting due to extinction: Species Name Where Found When Listed Last Confirmed Sighting Bachman’s warbler FL, SC 1967 1988 Bridled white-eye (bird) GU (Guam) 1984 1983 Flat pigtoe mussel AL, MS 1987 1984 Green-blossom pearly mussel TN, VA 1984 1982 Ivory