These Species Are Almost Gone! Endangered Species of New England June 2017 A Sixth Grade Collaborative Project
Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) The Karner blue is an endangered species native to New England. It was discovered in Karner, New York. The Karner blue is also native to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada. This type of butterfly does not migrate. It also has a pretty short life span usually lasting 1-2 weeks. The karner blue has an extremely small wingspan, the size of a postage stamp which is about 1-1.5 inches. This butterfly weighs around one ounce. You might think that every butterfly is a pollinator, well that’s not quite the truth because the Karner blue is not.The karner blue butterfly is endangered because habitat throughout the range of the Karner blue butterfly has been lost as a result of land development and lack of natural disturbance, such as wildfire and grazing by large mammals.
Such disturbance helps maintain the butterfly's habitat.The Karner blue butterfly's rarity and beauty make it a desirable addition to butterfly collections. Because butterfly numbers are so low, the collection of even a few individuals could harm the butterfly population. Plant a garden with flowers that attract butterflies. Use native plants in your lawn and gardens.Join a conservation group; many have local chapters. Learn more about the Karner blue butterfly and other endangered and threatened species. Understand how the destruction of habitat leads to loss of endangered and threatened species and our nation's plant and animal diversity. Tell others about what you have learned.
Image link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karner_blue
Atlantic Salmon Atlantic Salmon are very interesting fish. They live mainly in the North Atlantic Ocean and there are some in the streams of Maine. Atlantic Salmon are on average two and a half feet long and weigh about 10 ten pounds. They are a brownish color on top, silver on the sides and have black spots that are sometimes x shaped. Atlantic Salmon feed on small fish, shrimp and squid but stop eating when they make it to freshwater so they live off the fat stored in their bodies. Atlantic Salmon can live from six months to seven years. Scientists believe that Atlantic Salmon make it back to their spawning spot by somehow sensing the magnetic field of Earth.
Atlantic Salmon are endangered for many reasons. When Atlantic Salmon are born they have to make a long 2,000 mile long journey from the freshwater, where they were born, to the ocean, where they are going to live. Along the journey things like predators, pollution and man made reservoirs kill most of the salmon. Pollution is a huge factor for why Atlantic Salmon are endangered. If oil spills or garbage is dumped into the water we are polluting the fishes and other sea life’s homes and not to mention this pollution kills most of the Atlantic Salmon. If the fish do make it to the ocean, it will most likely be caught by a commercial fishing crew. We can save Atlantic Salmon by doing many things. For one we could reduce the amount of commercial fishing we do. Also many environmental groups are working on laws to protect these fish and they are also spreading awareness to the public.
This is an Atlantic Salmon.
http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/atlantic-s almon.html
Bald Eagle Numbers were once as low as 500 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states. Bald eagle numbers have rebounded since and now the lower 48 states boast over 5,000 nesting pairs. There are a total of about 70,000 bald eagles in the whole of North America (Including Alaska and Canada). The Bald Eagle is an Endangered Species Act success story. Forty years ago, our national symbol was in danger of extinction throughout most of its range. Habitat destruction and degradation, illegal shooting, and the contamination of its food source, largely as a consequence of DDT, decimated the eagle population.
Insert the image here
This is a picture of eight Bald Eagles and one Golden Eagle
https://www.google.com/search?q=fun%20facts%20a bout%20bald%20eagles&safe=strict&rlz=1CAACAG_ enUS720US720&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved =0ahUKEwj6s6i4t7jUAhWGdD4KHWNJCQ0Q_AUIC ygC&biw=1318&bih=670#safe=strict&tbm=isch&q=bal d+eagles&imgrc=TT1o84pbr14ByM:
Gray Wolf The gray wolf is endangered because in 1630 hunting wolves became a way to earn money. They are still endangered because wolf slaughter was continued in 1945. There diet is Caribou, Elk, Deer, and Moose. Wolves have Long legs, Big feet, Wide head, Long bushy tail with black tip, Nose pad is black. People are scared of wolves because of their figure.
https://www.emaze.com/@AQLFLWOT/The-Gr ey-Wolf
Red Knot Bird The Red Knot species spends its winters in either China, India, or Australia. During winter it migrates to places as far as New Zealand. The scientific name of the bird is¨Calidris Canutus¨. It is endangered because of the climate change and coastal development. Their diet consists of Crustaceans, insects, mollusks, and seeds. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calidri s_canutus_(summer).jpg
Eastern Cougar The Eastern Cougar is the second largest wildcat in the Western Hemisphere, only the jaguar grows larger. Wide range of habitats: deserts, grasslands, swamps, tropical rainforests, mountain areas. Endangered because of overhunting, habitat destruction such as housing development, and hunting of the White-tailed Deer, the main food of the Eastern Cougar. Size: fully grown- 5 feet ( not including tail), tail- 2 to 3 feet long Weight: adult males- 110 to 150 pounds, heaviest- 220 or more
Diet: White- tailed Deer- one deer a week, elk, beaver, hare-rabbit.
Other facts: The Eastern Cougar cannot roar, but it can purr. It can leap as far as 40 feet. Also, cougars rarely attack people.
Image Link: http://ctmountainlion.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cougar-jum p.jpg
The Bog Turtle The bog turtle is the smallest turtle in the world. It is a whole 4.5 inches. It is also nicknamed the Bog Turtle but it's real name is Glyptemys muhlenbergii. Some reasons why the Bog Turtle is endangered is because, well it faces numerous potential threats, but the most significant and damaging is the loss, alteration and fragmentation of its wetland habitat. The loss of the wetland habitat comes from something called global warming. Another interesting fact is, during winter, bog turtles hibernate underwater in deep areas of bogs in about 6 to 18 inches of mud. Immature turtles do not hibernate in deep mud until they are 2 to 3 years old. https://www.fws.gov/northeast/nyfo/es/images/bogt3. jpg
Here is a Bog turtle in it's wetland habitat
http://www.paherps.com/herps/turtles/bog_turtle/
Cottontail Located/Habitats
Eat/Diet
Cotton Tail’s are located of North America and parts of Central and South America. They have many habitats such as fields, prairies, marshes, and swamps and more.
Cotton Tail’s eat many things such as green leafy plants, clover,grass, Herbs. In the winter they eat the twigs, bark, and fruit of bushes and trees. However, sometimes damage crops because they nibble the tender sprouts of beans, lettuce, and other vegetables. Life Span/ The lifespan of a cottontail averages about two years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C ottontail_rabbit
https://newen glandcottontai l.org/natural-h istory/breedin g-lifespan
Why they are in danger?
What are people doing to help them?
Cottontail are in danger because people rank as the greatest enemies of rabbits, hunters kill rabbits for sport and for food, Farmers kill rabbits to protect crops, they also kill rabbits by destroying the animals' natural habitats, also wild cottontail rabbits often die from the disease tularemia too.
People are rescuing cottontail rabbits by letting them live at the sanctuary – and given as much love and care as is humanly possible, also are providing veterinary, food, shelter maintenance, and Help-Fix-Me (spay/neuter) funds.They are also making fundraisers to raise money for food, spaying and neutering and emergencies/unexpected medical situations.They made a Orphaned for them to stay there until they get adopted, and provided with physical and social rehabilitation.
http://www.me dirabbit.com/E N/Skin_diseas es/Parasitic/Ti cks/Ticks.htm
http://ww w.raising -rabbits. com/fee ding-wild -rabbits. html
Canada Lynx The Canada Lynx is a North American Wildcat that is on the verge of being extinct because of being trapped, and habitat destruction. Luckily, laws are being created that ban people from trapping Canada Lynx. Here are some facts about the Canada Lynx. Canada Lynx have a short tail with a black tip, as well as tufted ears. This animal is slightly larger than a bobcat, and can weigh from eight to 17.3 kg, with a length of 26 to 42 inches. Canada Lynx hunt snowshoe hare, and depend on them for survival. If the snowshoe hare population is low, than so is the Canada Lynx population. Canada Lynx can mostly be found in Maine living in thick forests. Something really cool about this animal is that its paws are snowshoe shaped which makes it easier to walk in snow, where they hunt.
(Extra Fact: The Canada Lynx’s scientific name is Lynx Canadensis.)
This is a picture of a Canada Lynx leaping, probably at its prey.
Click here to go to Arkive.org (where I found my picture)