Endangered Species

Below is a list of just a few of the endangered species in Pennsylvania. Some of these species are in immediate danger of being wiped out from the state; others from becoming extinct everywhere. Once a species becomes extinct, that means they are gone forever — just like the dinosaurs are extinct. Right now, species are becoming extinct at a rate much faster than at any point in human history.

	BOG TURTLES One of the smallest turtles on the continent, adult bog turtles measure only four to four-and-a-half inches long. Their upper shells are dark brown with orange or yellow markings, and typically get warn smooth as they age. The large yellow or orange patch on their bodies behind their eyes easily identifies them. WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED? WHAT YOU CAN DO.

	INDIANA BATS The last mammal in Pennsylvania to be identified as a species, Indiana bats are black and gray, and can be distinguished from more common bats by their pink lips. Once found in caves along the Appalachian Mountains, within Pennsylvania hibernating spots have only been found in Blair and Luzerne since 1980. WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED? WHAT YOU CAN DO.

	LEAST SHREWS Least shrews are black with an ash gray belly. They measure three to three-and-a-half inches, and are distinguished by that size in combination with a very short tail. Unlike other shrews, least shrews do not like moist, dark forests. They prefer to live in open pastures and fields. WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED? WHAT YOU CAN DO.

	NORTHERN RIFFLESHELLS These small, light tan or olive-colored mussels are about two to four inches long with oval-shaped shells. Northern riffleshells are found in freshwater areas with clean gravel or sand beds and swift-moving water. The surviving populations in northeastern Pennsylvania are among the strongest in the world. WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED? WHAT YOU CAN DO.

	SHORT-EARED OWLS Short-eared owls are light to dark brown, about the size of a crow, a distinguished by their small "ear" tufts. These birds make their nests on the ground in tall grasses, and their young need about a month after hatching before they can fly. Short-eared owls are active at dawn, dusk and sometimes even midday, so they are spotted more than many other owls. WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED? WHAT YOU CAN DO.

	SPREADING GLOBEFLOWERS From five to twenty inches tall, and three to five inches wide, spreading globeflowers and large and showy, with brightly-colored flowers and sepals. They grow in rich swamps, wet meadows and wet woods. WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED? WHAT YOU CAN DO.

For more information, please visit: The Wild Resource Conservation Fund For information on all threatened and endangered species in Pennsylvania. Endangered Specie To learn about threatened and endangered species worldwide. Bagheera To learn about some species that have already become extinct.