Many people do not stop to think about endangered species at all, but the importance of this matter cannot be stressed enough. Part of helping these animals is understanding them. Here, you can find out about endangered mammals, their habitats, how they became endangered, and how we can all do our part to help save them. There are several different degrees of endangerment. Rare species exist in relatively low numbers over their ranges, but aren't necessarily in immediate danger of extinction.
Threatened species are abundant in parts of their range but are declining in total numbers.
Critically endangered species are those that probably can't survive without direct human intervention. The causes for endangerment are numerous. Destruction of habitat, conversion of shrub lands to grazing lands, cutting and clearing of forests, urbanization, and highway and dam construction are just a few. As animal habitats decrease, the populations are forced into smaller areas, which causes further habitat destruction. Most mammals that have become extinct have done so because humans released non-original species who successfully competed for food.