There are around 3,000 native species of animal in America. Many of these, like the raccoon, are thriving, where they happily live alongside man, even taking advantage of the food sources that we provide. There are however many native species that need to be conserved, numbers are low, and if they’re not looked after, they could be facing extinction. In a world where wildlife is battling the effects of climate change and urbanization, it is important to protect the native American species, because once they’re lost, they will be gone forever.
American Bison
The American Bison is a much celebrated symbol of the American West, and they used to roam freely all over the states. Now however, numbers of American Bison are dwindling – they were brought right to the brink of extinction by the destruction of their habitat and wholesale slaughter. It has now been recognised that the American Bison needs help. In Texas, they have reinstated the Official State Bison Herd at Caprock, and many farmers are starting to keep this incredible animal on their ranches. With so much Texas acreage for sale, there is plenty of land to not only live on, but to also devote to protecting native animals. You could even purchase land in Texas to establish your own small herd. The American Bison can be saved, but we need to stop hunting them and start looking after them by protecting their natural habitat.
Read more: How much does a bison weighs
Red Wolf
Red Wolves are a native species, found in the southeastern states. Sadly, it is one of the most threatened species in America. Closely related to the Grey Wolf and the Coyote, the Red Wolf population was decimated in the early 20th Century due to excessive hunting and predator control. It is now estimated that there are only 20 Red Wolves out in the wild, and 245 that are kept in captivity. The way forward for the Red Wolf is currently unclear.
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
The Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles are found in the Atlantic Ocean, off the eastern coast of America, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. It is man that has done the damage, driving them towards extinction by poaching the turtle for its meat. Many turtles also get caught in fishing gear and simply don’t survive. Habitat loss and water pollution are also key factors in the devastation of the turtle population. The U.S. has now finally assigned the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle protected status and have developed a captive breeding program, ultimately releasing the animals back into the wild.
Man has been responsible for the decimation of so many native animal species in America. These precious animals now desperately need our help to survive.
