Celebrate Endangered Species Day Today

May 16, 2014, is the day we observe the multitude of efforts taken to protect our nation’s endangered species, as well as diverse habitat that sustain them. That’s right, it’s Endangered Species Day.

Piping plovers breed on the shores of the northeast, and are extremely endangered. via USFWS

December was the 40^th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, a federal law designed to protect and restore the many imperiled populations of fish, wildlife and native plants of our nation. For many species, such as the Delmarva fox squirrel or Jesup’s milk-vetch, being listed on the Endangered Species Act was crucial in conserving rare and at-risk species. But despite our successes, these species continue to face threats around the globe ranging from climate change and rising sea levels to habitat destruction and the spread of invasive species.

There are many events throughout the Atlantic Northeast to celebrate, such as Franklin Park Zoo this Saturday, May 17. At these zoos, you can see endangered species first hand, such as jaguars and Mexican gray wolves, among other species. If there’s an event happening nearby, I encourage you to check it out! For a complete list of Endangered Species Day events, look here.

Jesop’s milk-vetch was formerly found only on one mountain top in New Hampshire, but the Endangered Species Act is helping it along its recovery. Credit: Sarah Cairns for the NH Natural Heritage Bureau

Pictured here, Delmarva fox squirrel can easily be mistaken for its cousin, the eastern gray squirrel, but the former has a bushier tail. via USFWS.

One simple way to celebrate Endangered Species Day this year would be to educate a friend or family member about the dangers that these threatened species face, not just on May 16, but every day.

This year, the winner of our Endangered Species Day Art Contest is Amy Feng, of Livingston, New Jersey, with her painting of a sea otter. Congrats Amy!

And after you’ve enjoyed the Endangered Species Day festivities, don’t forget to keep endangered species on your mind throughout the calendar year.

Harvesting homes for wildlife at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge

At Brave Boat Harbor and Upper Wells, trees had grown too mature to provide habitat for cottontails. Their leafy crowns cut off sunlight, causing ground-covering food plants to die off. Leaving plenty of other middle-aged forest, trees were harvested on less than 5 percent of the forest as part of an effort to manage young forest across 25 acres. The area is now growing into a dense thicket and becoming great habitat for cottontails and other wildlife, such as gray catbird, a type of shrubland bird. Credit: USFWS

Today you’re hearing from writer Charles Fergus, who manages www.newenglandcottontail.org, www.youngforest.org, and www.timberdoodle.org for the Wildlife Management Institute.

Saws whined and trees thumped the ground as loggers harvested oaks and pines.

Using shovels, digging bars, and plenty of elbow grease, volunteers planted native shrubs in old fields of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Maine.

These efforts are creating much-needed young forest homes in the Pine Tree State for the rare New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) and a host of other wild creatures, from tiny flycatchers to furtive bobcats.

The New England cottontail once thrived in the brushy thickets along rivers and coastlines, and was also abundant as abandoned farms grew into young forest in the early to mid-20th century. Then, increased development and reforestation caused the rabbit’s population to plummet as the thick habitat it needed became increasingly rare. Now, the New England cottontail is a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act, and is already protected as endangered by the State of Maine.

New England cottontails aren’t easy to photograph. This photo was taken just after the rabbit was released by biologists. It was raised in captivity as part of our program to conserve the species. Credit: USFWS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, with support from the Defenders of Wildlife Volunteer Corps and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, manages almost 100 acres (40 hectares) of habitat for the rabbit. Work takes place in the Brave Boat Harbor Division and Upper Wells Division in York County, as well as in the Spurwink River Division in Cumberland County.

Planting these native shrubs helps create habitat for the New England cottontail, which uses thickets, young forest and shrubland for its home. These young forests are generally less than 25 years old. Credit: USFWS

At Brave Boat Harbor and Upper Wells, trees had grown too mature to provide suitable habitat for the cottontail—their leafy crowns cut off sunlight, causing ground-covering food plants to die off. Leaving plenty of other middle-aged forest, trees were harvested on less than five percent of the forest as part of an effort to manage young forest across 25 acres (10 ha). The area is now growing into a dense thicket, which is ideal habitat for the cottontail which needs places to hide from and escape predatory birds.

“Most people don’t tolerate natural processes that historically created shrubland, like fire and beaver-created floods,” says Kelly Boland, Maine’s New England cottontail restoration coordinator. “If we don’t replace these natural processes, we will lose those critters that need shrublands to live, including the New England cottontail.”

To add habitat next to the cleared trees, volunteers planted native shrubs including juniper, staghorn sumac, Virginia rose, and three kinds of dogwood. …Keep reading this story!

Check out our endangered species infographic!

Download a PDF or high-resolution version of this infographic.

Did you miss our ESA anniversary posts?

• Happy 40th, Endangered Species Act!
• Snails need love, too (an “ode” to the less cuddly of our endangered wildlife)