z 15.5 Extinction

Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species

United States

Informational Resources

• Local wildlife guide. https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide
• ‘Keystone species’ is the term for species that are vital to ecosystems and would have significantly greater extinction consequences in comparison to other species
• Moon Gardens support nighttime pollinators: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT822qspr/
  Specific Animals
• Insect Apocalypse: Insect populations are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, monocropping, climate change, pollution, disease, invasive species
• Bird Deaths: Cats kill about 1.3-1.4 billion birds each year. Glass windows on buildings kill 100 million- 1 billion birds through collisions each year. Vehicle collisions kill 80 million birds per year. Powerlines (collison/electrocution), wind turbines(collision), and oil pits(drowning) each kill thousands of birds each year. Birds also die from pesticides, “lead poisoning from shot game(unclear)” illegal hunting, fishing gear(lines, nets), invasive species, and climate change.
• Mammal Deaths - Habitat loss, vehicle collisions, pollution, climate change, hunting, and human conflict affect populations of many mammal species from large predators to small rodents. Examples include decline of koalas due to habitat loss, polar bears from climate change, and Tasmanian devils from vehicle strikes.
• In the US, there are the most common animals that are impacted:
• Bats (Keystone species) - From habitat loss, disease, wind turbines. Species like the little brown bat have seen massive die-offs from white-nose syndrome fungus.
• Ground squirrels - Habitat loss and poisoning. Western gray squirrels and Utah prairie dogs(keystone species) have seen sharp declines.
• Rabbits and hares - Habitat loss, hunting pressure. New England cottontails and pygmy rabbits are examples of declining species.
• Deer - Habitat loss and vehicle collisions impact white-tailed deer and mule deer. Overpopulation also degrades ecosystems.
• Marine mammals - Pollution, ship collisions, and noise pollution hurt whales, dolphins, seals, and manatees. North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered.
• Big cats -Habitat loss, human conflict, and hunting endanger cougars, bobcats, ocelots, and the critically endangered Florida panther.
• Bears (keystone species) - Habitat fragmentation, conflicts with humans, and climate impacts are problems for American black bears, grizzly bears, and polar bears.
• Canids - Coyotes, foxes, and wolves(keystone species) are threatened by hunting, trapping, and urbanization across much of their range. Red wolves are critically endangered.
• Rodents - Beavers are a keystone species. Rare rodents like salt marsh harvest mice, Allegheny woodrats, and Key Largo woodrats suffer from habitat loss and predation from invasive species.
• Insectivores - Shrews and moles need intact soil ecosystems but face habitat disruption from development and pollution.
• Reptile Deaths - Habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, hunting, and climate impacts threaten diverse reptiles including sea turtles, snakes, lizards, crocodilians, and tortoises. Road mortality is also a major problem for turtles and snakes.

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS (GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE AND FIND A RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE TO GET STARTED)

Insects:

• Habitat preservation - Protecting or restoring natural areas like forests, prairies, wetlands provides needed habitat for insects. Corridors between patches can also help.
• Reduced pesticide use - Limiting broad-spectrum insecticide applications in agriculture and landscapes enables more insects to survive. Targeted Integrated Pest Management is an alternative.
• Organic practices - Shifting more agriculture and gardens to organic methods without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers benefits insects.
• Native plantings - Choosing diverse native plant species provides food and habitat for specialized native insects.
• Reduced mowing - Letting grassy roadsides, fields and other areas grow longer provides shelter for insects.
• Citizen science monitoring - Volunteer insect monitoring projects help scientists track populations and guide conservation actions. Examples include butterfly counts, bee surveys, etc.
• Invasive species control - Removing harmful invasive insects, plants, etc. helps protect ecosystems for native insect fauna.
• Climate mitigation - Reducing greenhouse gases can help limit climate change impacts to vulnerable insects like artic bumble bees. (and all insects)
• Light pollution reduction - Decreasing excessive outdoor lighting reduces attraction/disorientation of nocturnal insects.
• Support for beneficial insects - Providing habitat for pollinators and natural pest predators promotes ecological balance.
• Governments can create incentives to encourage insect-friendly practices on private lands.

Birds:

• Habitat conservation - Protecting and restoring natural bird habitats like forests, wetlands, and grasslands provides space for birds to nest and feed.
• Bird-friendly buildings - Using patterned or fritted glass, window films, or angled windows helps prevent collisions. Lights out programs at night also help.
• Reducing collisions - Putting bird deterrents on windows and covering oil pits and other hazards can reduce collision mortality.
• Power line modifications - Insulating wires, using perch deterrents, and burying power lines can prevent electrocutions.
• Renewable energy - Shift to wind and solar power to reduce impacts of fossil fuel industry on birds. Careful turbine placement is also important.
• Reduce pesticides - Limiting use of toxic pesticides and rodenticides can prevent poisoning birds and their prey.
• Cat containment - Keeping domestic cats indoors or using leashes/enclosures when outside protects birds from predation.
• Legal protections - Establishing and enforcing legal consequences for killing threatened birds or destroying nests.
• International agreements - Cooperative international agreements to protect migratory bird species across borders.
• Citizen science monitoring - Expand citizen science projects to track bird populations and guide conservation efforts.
• Education campaigns - Educating the public, especially children, about the value of birds fosters support for conservation.

Mammals:

• Habitat protection - Preserving interconnected tracts of natural habitat gives mammals space and reduces fragmentation effects. Wildlife corridors enable migration.
• Limiting urban sprawl - Concentrating new development in existing developed areas instead of expanding into natural habitats can protect mammals.
• Fencing - Building wildlife-friendly fencing along roads and railways can reduce collisions and funnel animals to safe crossings.
• Wildlife crossings - Overpasses, underpasses, and culverts allow mammals to safely traverse roads and other barriers.
• Hunting regulation - Bag limits, restrictions on methods/equipment, and quotas help control unsustainable hunting of threatened mammals.
• Reducing toxins - Limiting use of pesticides, rodenticides, and pollutants that accumulate in mammal tissues can prevent poisonings.
• Invasive species control - Removing invasive predators and competitors helps protect endangered native mammalian species.
• Mitigating climate change - Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can limit climate impacts on vulnerable mammals like polar bears, pandas, and pikas. (and all animals)
• Protecting food sources - Banning fishing gear entanglements and practices that deplete prey like fish can benefit marine mammals.
• Public education - Teaching people the value of mammalian biodiversity fosters support for conservation policies and protections.
• Citizen science - Expanding citizen science projects monitoring mammal populations helps guide evidence-based conservation strategies.

Specific Animals

Bats

• Improve treatment and containment of white-nose fungal disease in bat colonies.
• Install bat houses to provide roosting sites as natural sites decline.
• Protect cave and mine winter hibernation sites from human disturbance.

Wolves

• Use road fencing and crossings to reduce wolf-vehicle collisions in expansion areas.
• Establish buffer zones around dens to prevent human disruption of pup-rearing.
• Manage livestock using deterrents to reduce wolf-livestock conflicts.

Beavers

• Use flow devices and pond levelers to prevent flooding problems from beaver dams.
• Reintroduce beavers to areas where they've been extirpated.
• Discourage lethal trapping where beaver activity conflicts with human infrastructure.

Prairie Dogs

• Limit prairie dog poisoning programs to minimize non-target species deaths.
• Restore native grasses and prohibit livestock overgrazing around prairie dog towns.
• Establish plague vaccine programs to curb periodic epizootics in prairie dogs.

Bears

• Improve secure food storage and bear-proof garbage systems to limit human conflicts.
• Establish protected habitat corridors between fragmented bear populations.
• Implement programs to end bear bile farming and trafficking.