Desert Tortoise

In what states is the
NM desert tortoise found?
This tortoise lives in the deserts of Arizona, southern Utah, 8k
Nevada, and California. Actually, it mostly lives under the
desert! In the summer, the tortoise digs tunnels underground

to hide from the sun. All winter it sleeps, or “hibernates,”
in deep holes.

18


Mississippi Sandhill Crane

This tall, grayish bird is very rare. Sometimes, a group of
cranes will dance in a great circle. The cranes bow to their
partners and leap into the air. It would be sad if these graceful,
dancing birds were to disappear.

12



aA In what states is the
= bald eagle found?
The bald eagle is our national symbol. Its eyesight is so good

that it can spot a fish from more than a mile away, It is so fast

that it can swoop down through the air at 100 miles an hour

to catch this tasty meal with its strong claws.

22


Shortnose Sturgeon

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In what states is the

saat shortnose sturgeon found?
This fish gets its name from its short pointy nose. The Si
shortnose sturgeon is shaped like a torpedo and can swim
very fast. It has two homes. In the winter and spring, the fish
lives in rivers and swims upstream to lay eggs. This trip can
be over 100 miles long! Then, in the summer and fall, the fish
swims out to its second home in the ocean.



Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle

Some insects are endangered, too. The valley elderberry
longhorn beetle lives only in elderberry trees in California.
Female beetles lay their eggs in cracks and crevices in the
tree bark. It takes 2 years for an adult beetle, with its bright
green wings trimmed with orange, to appear!

19

In what states is the
EL ate elderberry longhorn beetle found?



Florida Panther

Desert Tortoise

Bald Eagle

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Shortnose Sturgeon

Sandhill Crane

Attwater’s Greater
Prairie Chicken

Valley Elderberry
Longhorn Beetle


Mauna Kea Silversword

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In what states is the
: cae Mauna Kea silversword found?

The Mauna Kea silversword is found only in the State of
Hawaii on the island of Maui. The pretty pink flowers of this
plant can rise over 7 feet high! At the bottom of the plant is a
ball of pointed, silvery leaves that look like swords. The leaves
are sharp as swords, too!



Black Lace Cactus

This tiny cactus, only 6 inches tall, grows in the deserts of
southern Texas. The plant’s pink and purple flowers with
red centers are very pretty. But watch out! This plant, like
most cacti, has spines as sharp as pins.

16

Sk,

In what states is the
black lace cactus found?



Florida Manatee

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Where is the

ol, Florida manatee found?

This gentle animal lives in the coastal waters of Georgia,
Florida, and Puerto Rico. It is about 10 feet long and can
weigh up to 2,000 pounds—as much as a car! Manatees eat
only plants. After eating, they may swim to the bottom and
rest for awhile. Manatees can hold their breath for up to 12
minutes at a time.



Nashville Crayfish

é\. In what states is the
—’ Nashville crayfish found?
The Nashville crayfish looks like a very small lobster. Like
a lobster, the crayfish has claws that can pinch! As a young
crayfish grows, it gets too big for its shell. When this happens,

it grows a bigger shell and casts off the old one like a snake
sheds its skin.



Dwarf Wedge Mussel

; In what states is the

oe dwarf wedge mussel found?
See the squiggly line on the river bottom? It wasn’t made by a
snake or worm. It was made by the dwarf wedge mussel.
These animals look like small clams, and have hard shells
and soft bodies. Female mussels can carry thousands of eggs
inside their shells, and these shells are only an inch or
two long.



Attwater’s Greater Prairie Chicken

Oo-loo-woo, sings the male prairie chicken to his mate. Prairie ~

chickens sing and dance every spring in the grasslands of
Texas. Their dancing area is called the “booming ground”

because of the loud songs of the males.

17

In what states is the
Attwater’s greater prairie chicken found?



Eastern Indigo Snake

In what states is the
*\_astern indigo snake found?

be

When full grown, the eastern indigo snake is longer than

most people are tall. Indigo is the blue-black color of the

and even other

snake’s skin. This animal eats birds, frogs,

snakes.



i $a) In what states is the
grizzly bear found?
You'd look pretty short standing next to this &-foot tall bear!
The grizzly bear is one of the biggest animals in North
America. Adult grizzly bears are shy and usually live alone.
Young cubs stay with their mother for several years.
She teaches them to hunt, fish, and find berries and nuts.

23


217-3048
September 1991

a EPA United States Pesticide Programs (H7506C)
Ww Environmental Protection Washington, DC 20460

Agency

Endangered Species
Protection Program

&B Printed on Recycled Paper



Florida Panther

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In what states is the
Florida panther found?
The Florida panther has a cowlick in the middle of its back

and acrook at the end of its long tail. Like housecats, the
Florida panther keeps clean by licking its fur with its tongue.
These graceful cats make a lot of different noises, including
chirps, peeps, growls, and hisses. Panther kittens make a
sound like a whistle to tell their mother where they are. There
are fewer than 50 Florida panthers alive, making this cat one
of the rarest animals in the world.

10



Monito Gecko

This little lizard with bulging eyes is quite an acrobat. It races
easily across cliffs and can even walk upside-down! Full-grown

Monito geckos are about as big as your thumb—only 1-1/2
inches long.

Where is the
Monito gecko found?



Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

High up in the trunk of a pine tree, the red-cockaded
woodpecker digs a hole with its sharp beak. Sap flows from
the tree and collects around the hole. Because the sap is
sticky like glue, it keeps enemies such as snakes away. In this
and other holes in nearby trees, a family of nine birds will live
quite happily.

6


Mission Blue Butterfly

The mission blue butterfly flits and flutters, looking for just
the right flower in which to lay its eggs. In a few weeks, these
eggs hatch into caterpillars. Sometimes, these caterpillars
are guarded by ants that protect them from enemies, like
flies and other insects. The caterpillars “pay” the ants back
by giving off a sweet, gooey liquid that the ants like to eat.

20


Green Pitcher Plant

If you would like more information about EPA’s
Endangered Species Protection Program, contact:

Endangered Species Protection Program (H7506C)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW.

Washington, DC 20460

Nashville Crayfish

Florida Manatee


they are not used correctly.
The bald eagle is one bird that
was harmed by pesticides. In
the past, a pesticide called
DDT was used by many farm-
ers. Rains washed the pesticide
into the lakes and streams
where it poisoned fish. After
eating the poisoned fish, the
eagles would lay eggs with
very thin shells. These eggs
were usually crushed before
they could hatch. Today, people are not allowed to
use DDT, and the bald eagle, although still endan-
gered, has slowly begun to increase in number.

People can also endanger plants and animals
by moving, or introducing, new species into areas
where they do not naturally live. Some of these
species do so well in their new habitat that they
endanger those species already living there, called
the native species. For example, when some fish
are introduced into a lake or stream, they may
prey upon, or eat the food of the native fish. The
native species may then have to find a new source
of food or a new home, or face becoming endan-
gered or extinct.

Another way that people harm animals and
plants is by taking them et .
from the wild. Some people 5
might catch an insect like
the Mission Blue Butterfly
for a butterfly collection.
Others might capture a
wild animal for a pet, or
pick a flower because it’s
pretty. In addition, some
people illegally hunt ani-
mals for food, skins, or fur.
In the past, lots of
American crocodiles were Oxy:
killed so that their skins | ‘ ane
could be made into shoes 2". 3, yo - 74
and other clothing. This Sts
crocodile is now an endangered species.

Why Protect Endangered
and Threatened Species?

Can you imagine walking in the woods without
hearing birds singing in the trees, or picture what
a field would be like without wildflowers blooming
in the grasses? Our plants and wildlife make the

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ie Tirpy

world a more interesting and beautiful place. More
importantly, all living species, including people,
depend on other species for survival. For example,
if a fish such as the shortnose sturgeon becomes
extinct, all of the species that rely on it for food will
also suffer and may become threatened or endan-
gered,

We all depend upon plants and wildlife. From
studying them, we have learned new ways of grow-
ing foods, making clothing, and building houses.
Scientists have discovered how to use certain
plants and animals as sources of medicines. If we
fail to protect threatened or endangered species,
we will never know how they might have improved
our lives,

Endangered and threatened species need our
help. Government agencies, such as the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service,
along with state fish and wildlife agencies and pri-
vate groups are making information available so
people can better protect endangered and threat-
ened species and their habitats. To do your part,
contact these agencies for information and join
the challenge in helping to protect endangered
and threatened species, and all wildlife, from
extinction,

This coloring book will introduce you to 21
endangered and threatened plants and animals
found in the United States. As you color these
pages, you will journey to oceans, swamps,
deserts, and islands and bring to life a variety of
plants and animals. If we all work together, we can
continue to share the earth with these fascinating
and important species and enjoy them in the wild-
not only in the pages of books.



Ozark Big-Eared Bat

This bat has big ears and orange-red fur. During the day, it
sleeps hanging upside-down inside of caves. At night, the bat
hunts for moths and other insects. On summer evenings, you
might see bats flying back to their caves. Hungry babies are
waiting to be fed!

13


Wyoming Toad



Introduction

What Are Endangered
and Threatened Species?

Acentury ago, a bird called the passenger pig-
eon lived in North America, There were so many
passenger pigeons that people often saw great
flocks of them flying overhead containing thou-
sands, even millions, of birds. Today, there isnota
single one left. What happened?

The passenger pigeon became extinct. All liv-
ing passenger pigeons disappeared from the earth
entirely. The passenger pigeon became extinct for
two reasons. First, the forests where it lived were
cut down to make way for farms and cities.
Second, many pigeons were shot for sport and
because they were good to eat. At that time, there
were no hunting laws to protect endangered
species like there are now.

The passenger pigeon is one of the many
plants and animals that once lived on our planet
and have become extinct. For example, dinosaurs,
mammoths, and saber-toothed tigers all became
extinct long ago. More recently, the dodo bird and
the sea mink also have disappeared. Extinction
has been going on since life began on earth. But
today, extinction is happening faster than ever
before.

There are more than 600 endangered or threat-
ened species in the United States today.
Endangered species are those plants and ani-
mals that are so rare they are in danger of becom-
ing extinct. Threatened species are plants and
animals whose numbers are very low or decreas-

gered yet, but are likely to become endangered in
the future.

How Does Extinction Happen?

Species disappear because of changes to the
earth that are caused either by nature or by the
actions of people. Sometimes a terrible natural
event, like a volcano erupting, can kill an entire
species. Other times, extinction will happen slowly
as nature changes our world. For example, after
the Ice Ages, when the great glaciers melted and
the earth became warmer, many species died
because they could not live in a warmer climate.
Newer species that could survive a warmer envi-
ronment took their places.

People can also cause the extinction of plants
and animals. The main reason that many species
are endan-
gered or
threatened
today is
because peo-
ple have
changed the
homes or se
habitats upon
which these
species depend. A habitat includes not only the
other plants and animals in an area, but all of the
things needed for the species’ survival—from sun-
light and wind to food and shelter. The United
States has many habitats, from ocean beaches to
mountain tops. Every species requires a certain
habitat in order to live. A cactus, for example,
needs the sunny, dry desert in
order to grow. A polar bear, on
the other hand, would not live in
a desert, because it could not
find enough food and water.

Pollution can also affect
wildlife and contribute to extinc-
tion. The Nashville crayfish is.
endangered mainly because the
creek where it lives has been pol-
luted by people living nearby.
Pesticides and other chemicals
can poison plants and animals if



Index of Species’ Common Name,

Scientific Name, and Status

PAGE COMMON NAME

17

18
19

20
21

22

23

Shortnose sturgeon
Dwarf wedge mussel
Nashville crayfish
Red-cockaded woodpecker
Eastern indigo snake
Florida manatee

Monito gecko

Florida panther

Green pitcher plant
Mississippi sandhill crane
Ozark big-eared bat
Leopard darter

Wyoming toad

Black lace cactus

Attwater’s greater prairie
chicken

Desert tortoise
Valley elderberry longhorn
beetle

Mission blue butterfly
Mauna Kea silversword

Bald eagle

Grizzly bear

SCIENTIFIC NAME
Acipenser brevirostrum
Alasmidonta heterodon
Orconectes shoupi

Picoides borealis
Drymarchon corais couperi
Trichechus manatus
Sphaerodactylus micropithecus
Felis concolor coryi
Sarracenia oreophila

Grus canadensis pulla
Plecotus townsendii ingens
Percina pantherina

Bufo hemiophrys baxteri

Echinocereus reichenbachii
var, albertii

Tympanuchus cupido attwateri

Gopherus agassizii

Desmocerus californicus
dimorphus

Icaricia icarioides missionensis

Argyroxiphium sandwicense
ssp. sandwicense

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Ursus arctos (=U.a. horribilis)

24

STATUS
endangered
endangered
endangered
endangered
threatened
endangered
endangered
endangered
endangered
endangered
endangered
threatened
endangered
endangered

endangered

threatened
threatened

endangered
endangered

endangered
icoiearanes USS. except
WA, OR, MN, WI, MI

where it is threatened)

threatened
(48 conterminous states)


EPA’s Endangered Species Protection Program

This coloring book is published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA’s) Office
of Pesticide Programs (OPP). OPP’s Endangered Species Protection Program is dedicated to
protecting threatened and endangered species from potentially harmful exposure to pesticides
while at the same time maintaining viable agricultural production in the United States.

The plants and animals depicted here are not necessarily threatened by pesticides; however, they
are representative of the many different species our program is protecting. The Endangered Species
Protection Program will place use limitations on pesticides that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
determines may jeopardize endangered or threatened species. The labels on these pesticides will
instruct the user to follow instructions in a County Bulletin, which will explain where the threatened
or endangered species lives, list pesticides that may harm the species, and explain how individuals
can use the product in a way that will not harm the species. Until the program formally begins, EPA
is providing this information in the form of Interim Pamphlets.

In addition to the bulletins and pamphlets, EPA is developing a series of fact sheets on endan-
gered and threatened species in the United States to assist the public in learning about endangered

and threatened species.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

EPA wishes to thank the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the US.
Fish and Wildlife Reference Service for their help in developing OPP’s Endangered Species Protection
Program and in developing and reviewing this publication.



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11


These little fish have leopard spots and leopard speed! They

zip through rivers in a wink of an eye, darting after insects,
which they eat. Leopard darters grow to only 3 inches long
and live for 1 to 3 years.

14