Endangered species across America: The coasts of California and Florida are home to the most endangered species — over 300 each — while landlocked states like Montana and Wyoming have fewer than 25
- The research was conducted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act
- California has the most endangered creatures at 368, followed by Florida
- Texas, Alabama, and New York also have high lists of near-extinct species
- Wyoming, Idaho, and the Dakotas all have the least endangered species
California and Florida are home to hundreds of endangered species, most of them in the United States, according to conservation researchers.
The numbers come from a federal review of which endangered species call which parts of the Americas home, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.
The organization categorizes different creatures according to their risk of global extinction and shows where they are native.
An original breakdown was created by a Reddit user to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the US Endangered Species Act.
The law was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in late 1973 after almost unanimous passage in the House and Senate.
It was designed to protect endangered species from extinction caused by “economic growth and development not mitigated by adequate care and conservation.”
In a ruling upholding the law, the Supreme Court called it “the most comprehensive endangered species conservation legislation enacted by any nation.”
California leads the nation with 368 different endangered species calling the Golden State home.
Some of the state’s endangered residents include sea otters, several different species of sea slugs, and dozens of different species of rare plants.
Florida ranks second with 341, and unsurprisingly, the state’s endangered species include many sea creatures.
In addition to aquatic life such as turtles and hammerhead sharks, there are also many endangered migratory birds.
Texas and Alabama have the third-highest number of endangered species at 181 and 169, respectively.
The Lone Star State is home to a few species of monkeys (which are housed in zoos) on the list, while Alabama contains everything from rabbits to bats.
The northernmost state with the most endangered species is New York, where creatures as diverse as whales and gazelles have been found.
The four states in America with the least endangered species are all landlocked and contiguous: Montana (18), Wyoming (20), North Dakota, and South Dakota (both 21).
These areas are home to everything from whooping cranes to rare bumblebees that have disappeared from much of the country.
In June, the White House announced plans to strengthen the ESA after rollbacks were introduced during the Trump administration.
In June, the Biden White House announced plans to strengthen the ESA after rollbacks were introduced during the Trump administration
American bumblebees are restricted to eight states due to their endangered status
“This is a critical step in reversing the damage the previous administration did to the Bedrock Act that protects endangered and threatened animal species and their habitat,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, in a statement at the time.
“Among other things, federal agencies under the previous administration made it more difficult to grant and maintain protections for endangered species and created exceptions that accommodated both state and special interests that prioritized profits and economic development over the survival of endangered wildlife.” ‘ added Amundson. “Things shouldn’t work that way when it comes to ESA protection.”
Among other initiatives, the Department of the Interior under President Biden has reinstated a long-standing policy that extends protections to species listed as “threatened” under the ESA, including from falling, gunshot, harassment or other harm.
From woodpeckers to clams: the 23 American species officially declared extinct
Ivory-billed Woodpecker – last seen in northwest Louisiana in 1944.
Bachman’s Warbler – Last seen in Louisiana, 1988.
Kauai O’o – last seen in his native Hawaii in 1985, last recording of his song in 1987.
Kauai akialoa – last seen in Hawaii in 1969.
Kauai nukupuu – Last seen in Hawaii in 1899.
Maui nukupuʻu – last seen in Hawaii in 1998.
Maui Akepa – Last seen in Hawaii in 1988.
San Marcos Gambusia – Last seen in Texas in 1983.
Bulbous Pearl Mussel – last specimen found dead at Kanawha Falls, West Virginia, 1969.
Bridled White-Eye – Last seen in his native Guam in 1983.
Greater Kauai Thrush – last seen in Hawaii in 1987.
Molokai creeper – last seen in Hawaii in 1963.
Po’ouli – Last seen in Hawaii in 2004.
Lesser Mariana fruit bat – last seen in Guam in 1968.
Southern Acorn Clam – Native to Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, last seen in 1973.
Stirrupshell – native to Alabama and Mississippi – was last seen in 1986.
Turgid-Blossom Pearl Clam – Native to Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee – Last seen in 1972.
Highland pectinata – native to Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee – was last seen in the 1980s.
Yellow-Flowered Pearl Mussel – Native to Alabama and Tennessee – Last seen in the 1980s.
Flat Pigtoe – native to Alabama and Mississippi – was last seen in 1984.
Green-flowered pearl oyster – native to Tennessee – last seen in 1982.
Scioto madtom – last seen in Ohio in 1957.
Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis – last seen in Hawaii in 1914.