AP Environmental Science
National Geographic
America’s Endangered Species: Don’t Say Good-bye
Two National Geographic Photographers, David and Susan, travel the U.S. taking pictures of
endangered species. They do this to help in public awareness.
Early English settlers saw nature as something to conquer. Humans didn’t even know that it was
possible for a species to go extinct.
1973: Endangered Species Act. America was the 1st country to pass laws to protect wildlife.
There are over 1,000 species on list currently.
Species name: Black Footed Ferret
Location: Laramie, Wyoming
Prairie dogs are the black footed ferret’s only food. Ranchers killed millions of prairie dogs
because they were seen as competition for their cattle. (Plus, their burrows would trip the cattle
and cause injury)
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The unanticipated effect of this extermination was decline in the black footed ferret, due to loss
of prey.
They were thought to be extinct
1987 - a small population was found. The last 18 ferrets were captured and brought in for captive
breeding.
The goal was to have a “Ferret Factory”, intense captive breeding. The primary goal is to increase
numbers.
It is difficult, because ferrets are susceptible to disease. Because of this, they are tightly
quarantined.
Over 1000 ferrets have been born there in the last ten years.
1991: The first captive-bred ferret was released.
 Many released ferrets have died
 There is no way to know if they’ll make it in the long run or not. In the mean time though, at
least they are a wild animal again.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Edward O. Wilson (Expert of species extinction)
Humans have accelerated the rate of extinction. He hoped that David and Susan would make
endangered species a vivid presence in the world. He believes that animals are our companions in
the biosphere, part of our existence…..part of us.
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Species name: Florida Manatee
Location: Florida
Threat: Speed boat propellers
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90% of manatee’s have propeller scars
They were thought to be “dumb and slow” since they don’t get out of the way when boats are
approaching.
They are actually very intelligent. They don’t get out the way when boats are approaching because
they can’t hear them.
Manatees have high frequency hearing
Boats emit low frequency sound.
What is being done: the hope is to put an attachment on the boat that emits high frequency sounds
so the manatees can hear the boats approaching and get out of the way.
Population today: 2,400
Species name: Golden Trout
Location: Little Current River (High Sierras), California
Dan Christianson – worked for the Department of Fish and Game. Considered “the man who
saved a species”
Threat: Introduced species. Fisherman introduced other species of fish to river. 5-6 years later,
the Golden Trout were almost wiped out.
What is being done: Electro-fishing stuns fish in the area, and non-native fish are removed.
The Golden Trout are making come back.
This is the only area in the world this type of trout is found.
Species: Red Wolf
(First animal reintroduction)
Location: Coastal North Carolina. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
Threat: Eradication. (Human extermination)
(Red Wolf Continued)
What is being done: Captive breeding / reintroduction. The wolves are tracked using radio collars.
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Problem: Wolves have a protected area that is surrounded by private land. Wolves don’t
know boundaries, and often times leave the reserve and are spotted on private land.
Ranchers don’t generally like wolves around because they are seen as a threat to their
livestock
Chemical Prospecting
Tom Isner - “Chemical prospector”. He looks for chemicals they may be helpful to humans in
plants and animals
Location: Central Florida Archibold Biological Station
 This area is unique because so many endangered species live here
Habitat: 5000 acres of scrub (dry land, sparse vegetation)
At night, Tom and the photographers walk the land with flashlights looking for “eye-shine”. They
find the spider they are looking for.
Tom feeds it a moth. The spider instantly grabs it, and then releases it.
Tom feeds it a different type of moth. The spider instantly grabs it, and eats it.
Tom has a “partnership” with the spider. The spider lets him know what moths have a toxin
present. This toxin could have some medicinal benefit to humans (ex: insect repellent)
Species: Ivory Billed Woodpecker
Location: Louisiana Swamp
Threat: Habitat destruction
Current Status: Extinct
Species: Presidio Manzanita
Location: (Microclimate) San Francisco, California
Threat: There is only 1 plant left. They need a mate in order to reproduce. This is the end of the
road for the Manzanita unless another is found (which is unlikely). This plant is called “The Living
Dead”.
Mark (scientist who works with the plant) lets Mark and Susan know where to step around the
plant. They don’t want to damage the root system.
Species: Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly
Location: South Central Los Angeles
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Arthur Barn (Ex-convict who is a caretaker of the blue butterfly) LA conservation corps
Threat: Habitat loss
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The current habitat of this butterfly is only 300 acres of land, surrounded by oil refineries.
What is being done: LA conservation corps maintains the habitat.
Arthur (and only 2 other people from the LA conservation corps) collects the butterflies.
Once she lays her eggs, he tries to keep the babies alive ( by feeding them, providing a
comfortable environment, etc)
Lifecycle of the Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly: Egg, caterpillar, and pupae for 1 year.
Only 5-day life span as a butterfly! They try to find a mate, the female lays her eggs, and
the cycle is repeated.
The Blue butterfly was thought to be extinct for 10 years. It is still one of the rarest butterflies in the
world.
Species: Bald Eagle
Location: Catalina Island (West of Los Angeles, California)
Threat: DDT (weakens the eggshell and causes eggs to break)
Only 12 eagles live on the island!
What is being done: Dave (scientist) climbs up on cliffs and takes bald eagle eggs, while replacing
them with “dummy eggs”.
The eggs are brought back to lab and repairs any cracks they may be present due to the
weakening effect of DDT. The eggs are kept in an extremely humid incubator.
Most eggs die. The egg that hatched in the video was the first one to hatch in 5 years. If the egg
had been left in the nest, it never would have hatched. Twelve days later, the eaglet is returned
home. The biologists don’t know if the male and female will accept or reject the eaglet.
One hour after being placed back in the nest on the cliff, the female returned and accepted the
eaglet.
Some wonder why the biologists even bother putting the eagles back onto Catalina Island when it
is known that they can’t reproduce without our assistance.
The biologist’s response is that the eagles belong on Catalina Island. Right now, they can’t
reproduce without our assistance. But in twenty years, maybe they will be able to reproduce on
their own. Until then, they will get the assistance that they need.
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