And as illustrated in Round Four , habitat can be reduced to a point where there is not even enough space for wildlife. National parks and wilderness areas are set aside as habitat preserves for wildlife. As development expands along park boundaries, the remaining habitat within parks become more and more valuable. Scientists are now beginning to understand that the habitat areas protected within parks may not be enough for wildlife to survive. A threatened species is one that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Extinction means that organism is gone from Earth forever.
Let the students know that there is are official federal and state lists of threatened and endangered mammal and bird species and take time to talk about these species. Evaluation Ask the students to think of ways they can help preserve wildlife habitat outside of North Cascades National Park. Some answers might include not littering, picking up litter when they find it, not pouring toxic substances down their house drains and street drains, protecting wildlife habitat in their neighborhood by being careful around streams and in forest groves, and by teaching others about the importance of habitat protection.