Using data from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Environmental Conservation Online System, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 states in the nation with the most endangered animals.
Animals are considered endangered by the IUCN when its population has declined between 50 and 70 percent, measured over 10 years or three generations of the species. Habitat loss, disease or predation, and other natural or man-made factors also play a role.
North Carolina ranks #10 for the most endangered animals with 24 species currently listed, including; spruce-fir moss spider, red-cockaded woodpecker, roseate tern, Appalachian elktoe, carolina heelsplitter, dwarf wedgemussel, james spinymussel, littlewing pearlymussel, tar river spinymussel, cape fear shiner, Carolina madtom, roanoke logperch, Saint Francis’ satyr butterfly, rock gnome lichen, Carolina northern flying squirrel, gray bat, Indiana bat, Virginia big-eared bat, red wolf, hawksbill sea turtle, kemp’s ridley sea turtle, and the leatherback sea turtle.
