What You Can Do to Help Wildlife and Plants

When most people hear the term endangered species, they think of manatees, grizzly bears, whales, and other charismatic species.  If these creatures don’t live in your area, you might think there is nothing you can do to help endangered species.  However, the current endangered species list contains almost 1300 plants, birds, fish, mammals, and other species that might live or migrate through your area.  Private citizens can play a critical role in protecting our country’s wildlife and plants.  Pulling invasive weeds that are forcing out native plants, rebuilding crumbling river banks, planting native trees—these are things we all can do to help improve our lands so they provide a better place for wildlife and humans to live. All endangered and threatened species need your help, from the familiar and famous species, like the gray wolf, to the lesser-known but equally important species, such as the Karner blue--a butterfly and the western lily. Here’s how you can make a difference:

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In your community

°  To learn about ways you can assist native wildlife in your area, contact your local U.S. Fish and   Wildlife Service (FWS) office—http://offices.fws.gov/ or your local natural heritage program or conservation data center—http://www.natureserve.org

      °   Volunteer at your local wildlife refuge—http://www.fws.gov/volunteers

      °   Join a local or national conservation organization.

      °   Support natural areas and nature centers near you.

      °  Work with other community members to maintain and restore local habitat.

      °  Contact your State or local fish and game office to learn how you can become involved in local community wildlife preservation efforts —http://www. fws.gov.offices/statelinks.html

      °  Walk, ride your bike, carpool, or use public transportation when possible.

      °  Organize litter cleanups and recycling drives.

      °  If you observe evidence of wildlife poaching, please contact your state fish and game office—http://www.fws.gov. offices/statelinks.html. State agencies handle violations of State wildlife laws and have jurisdiction over most local wildlife management issues. 

      °  Know and follow your fishing and hunting laws. Individual State, territorial, and tribal agencies sell recreational fishing and hunting licenses and are the best source of information regarding hunting and fishing seasons, local regulations, and areas that are open or closed to hunting and fishing -  http://www.fws.gov.offices/statelinks.html

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At home

      °  Don’t put hazardous substances down the drain or in the trash.  Things like paint thinner, furniture polish, and antifreeze can pollute our water and land, impacting people as well as wildlife.  For information on how to dispose of hazardous material properly, see the environmental Protection Agency’s guide to safe management of household hazardous waste—http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/househld/hhw.htm

      °  Take unwanted, reusable items to a charitable organization or thrift shop.  Use cloth, not paper, napkins. 

      °  Turn the lights and TV off when you leave a room. 

      °  Recycle everything you can: newspapers, scrap papers, cans, glass, motor oil, plastics, appliances, etc.

      °  Keep your cat indoors. Roaming house cats do tremendous damage to birds and other wildlife such as field mice, frogs, squirrels, and lizards.  Putting a bell on your cat helps, but keeping the cat inside is better.

      °  Don’t leave water running. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or washing your face.  Install watersaving devices, such as low-flow showerheads, to save water and save money.

      °  Write, e-mail, or call companies that send unwanted junk mail and ask them to take you off their list. 

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In your yard or neighborhood park

      °  To get more information on how you can work with the FWS to restore wetlands and other important fish and wildlife habitats on your own property, see the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program—http://www.fws.gov/landowner.html

      °  Plant native trees and bushes with berries or nuts that provide birds and other creatures with food and a place to live.  To learn how you can make your backyard wildlife-friendly, see the National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat program—http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat.

      °  Contact your County Cooperative Extension Service or local native plant society for help in identifying native plants. Native species adapted to local climate conditions require fewer resources and less care to flourish.

      °  Keep litter, pet wastes, and leaves out of street gutters and storm drains.  These outlets drain directly into lakes, streams, rivers and wetlands. Pet wastes contain bacteria and viruses that can threaten fish, wildlife, and people. 

      °  Learn about natural insect controls as alternatives to pesticides. Grow plants that are natural insect repellents among your flowers and vegetables to help keep unwanted insects away.  For more information on these and other EPA-recommended ways to make your lawn environmentally friendly, visit—http://www.epa.gov/seahome/lawns.html

      °  If you use fertilizer, calibrate your applicator to make sure you apply the correct amount.  Fertilizing more than the recommended rate does not help plants grow better and may harm them.  In addition, excess fertilizer may wash into streams and rivers and can lead to amphibian deformities and deaths as well as excess aquatic plant growth.

      °  Buy or make your own backyard composter for your food waste products like coffee grounds, vegetables, fruits, or other non-animal products. Compost is a natural fertilizer that enriches your soil.  It is especially good for vegetable gardens.  For more information on how to make your own compost, visit— http://www.hdra.org.uk/gh_comp.htm

      °  Pull weeds instead of using herbicides.

      °  Plant a butterfly garden. To get started, visit the North American Butterfly Association’s website—http://www.naba.org/pubs/bgh.html

      °  If you must use pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, don’t throw leftovers in the trash, down a drain or into a storm sewer; dispose of them properly. Visit the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Backyard Conservation website for pesticide disposal information and other environmental lawn and garden care tips —http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard.

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When you’re on vacation

      °  Turn the heat and water heater down before you leave home.

      °  Don’t pick flowers or collect wild creatures for pets. Leave animals and plants where you find them.

      °  Going abroad? Think twice about the things you buy. Travelers don’t realize that several U.S. laws and an international treaty make it a crime to bring many wildlife souvenirs into our country. To learn more about these laws and what products are illegal to import into the U.S., visit the FWS Law Enforcement page—http://www.le.fws.gov/info_importers_exporters

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In your classroom

      °  Ask your teachers to help you organize clean up days.

      °  Remove trash or invasive weeds from vacant lots or streams.  Replant eroding river banks with native trees that will stabilize the soil and reduce the amount of dirt going into the river. This will not only improve the quality of water for aquatic life and humans, it will provide habitat for birds and mammals.

      °  Plant a garden on your school grounds to attract wildlife, birds, and butterflies.  Build homes for bats and birds, and have the project certified by National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat program—http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat.

      °  Hold a school Arbor Day native tree planting.  Invite local officials.  Visit theNational Arbor Day  Foundation’s website – www.arborday.org/

      °  A growing number of local freshwater fishes whose existence are threatened by unhealthy rivers and streams. Grants are available to teachers for raising and breeding these fish for release.—http://www.troutintheclassroom.com/

      °  Explore nature in your neighborhood by celebrating National Wildlife Week at your school. For more information, visit the National Wildlife Federation’s website—http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek/

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When you’re shopping

      °  Only buy rare or “exotic” pets from reputable pet stores that can provide paperwork to demonstrate that the animal was legally acquired.  Some rare or exotic pets may have been smuggled into the country or taken from their natural habitat.

      °  Don’t buy products that come from endangered and threatened plant and animal species.

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In your car

      °  Don’t throw cigarettes or trash out your window.  Cigarettes cause thousands of forest fires every year.  Food trash along roadsides attracts animals that can be killed by cars.

      °  Recycle your engine oil.  Contact your local Solid Waste Management Office to find out where.

      °  Keep engines well-tuned and tires properly inflated to maximize fuel efficiency.

Consider a career in conservation!

Join the thousands of dedicated men and women who are working to protect wildlife and plants here in the U.S. and around the world. For more information on career opportunities, visit— http:// www.fws.gov/hr/HR/careers_fws.htm

Source:  http://www.fws.gov/endangered/pubs/WhatYouCanDo0905.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  Endangered Species Program 703/358-2171