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Rare and Endangered Animals 



Many of our plant and animal species are being destroyed by man's 

 developmental activities, by overgrazing, fire, introduced exotic 

 species and diseases, and particularly destruction of habitats. Some 

 of these species are of national significance, some are important as 

 gene pools for food and fiber producers, as pharmaceuticals, or are of 

 unknown potential use to humans. For many species, preservation of 

 critical habitats as natural areas is sufficient to preserve the 

 species from extinction. Other species require special laws to 

 prevent hunting, picking or collecting. 



At present, the species of endangered vertebrate animals are 

 fairly well known. The enormous numbers of invertebrate animal 

 species are less known and many have not even been described to 

 science and have completely unknown status. (Certain species of 

 endangered molluscs, butterflies, and a few other groups of inverte- 

 brates are presently fairly well known.) Most preservation efforts 

 for endangered animal species are limited to the relatively small 

 number of the larger and more obvious and interesting species. People 

 tend to identify with vertebrates more than with invertebrates; they 

 even choose them as symbols. 



In the Chesapeake Bay region there are at least four species of 

 vertebrate animals that are rare or endangered. This includes the 

 southern bald eagle, the DelMarVa fox squirrel, the Maryland darter 

 and the bog turtle. They are discussed below along with the osprey 

 which is rapidly declining, but not yet in the endangered category. 



