Every year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN for short, compiles alist of the world’s threatened species. There are three degrees of severity for threatened species, and they are: Vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered. The vulnerable species are on the verge of becoming endangered, but not quite there yet. The next degree of threat is endangered, which means that the species receives more protection. The most severe degree of threat are the critically endangered species, which risk of becoming extinct within one or two generations. Throughout the world there are hundreds of critical species that may become extinct if nothing is done to conserve their natural habitat.

Critical Species in America

While many people may not think ofAmerica as a place brimming with wildlife, the truth is that hundreds of thousands of species of plants and animals call the North American continent home. Through rapid expansion and population growth more and more habitats are being destroyed, which has led to dozens of species being placed on the critically endangered species list.

One such species is the American red wolf. Once found commonly throughout the southeastern United States, red wolves are have been a critically endangered species for the last forty years. During the 1970s, numbers of red wolves were so low that some scientists believed them to be extinct in the wild. Through extensive captive breeding and later reintroduction to a habitat in North Carolina, the red wolf was saved from extinction.

Another critically endangered species native to America is the leatherback turtle. Although the leatherback turtle can be found in all over the world, the American population has dwindled drastically over the last couple of decades. It is estimated that the turtle has seen an over 75% decrease in population since the 1980s. Since then, extensive research has been done on the causes of the decrease with no significant results.

Critical Species of Fish

When focusing on the critically endangered species found in America, one will notice that most of the species on the list are fish. Thousands of people depend on fish for food, as well as to sell commercially more a profit. The problem is that fishermen are catching certain species faster than they can reproduce, which is the main reason that they are now critically endangered. Such species on the endangered list are the shortnose cisco, pygmy sculpin, Pecos pupfish, speckled hind, black grouper, andWhite River spinedace.

Whilst over-fishing is a direct cause of shrinking fish populations, an indirect cause of the same is the draining of lakes and rivers by humans. As reservoirs across the country dry up in times of little rain, particularly in the Southwest and Midwest, the fish that live in these areas suffer from loss of habitat. The pollution of lakes and rivers by factories is also another cause of low fish populations.

Organizations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature work diligently to assess and protect the world’s most critically endangered species. The hope is that with these efforts, dozens of critical species will be saved from the brink of extinction.