5 Endangered

Species You
Should Know
About
made with
a lesson in ecology and conservation
Table of Contents

1. About The Homeschool Scientist

2. Why Do Endangered Species Matter?

3. Why Is The Rusty Patch Bumble Bee Important?

4. Can The Dusky Gopher Frog Be Saved?

5. Are Endangered Blue Whales Recovering?

6. Why Are Tigers Endangered?

7. What Is Happening To Bats Around The World?

About The Homeschool
Scientist

The mission of TheHomeschoolScientist.com is to take the fear out of and

put the fun into science education. 

Who Is The Homeschool Scientist?

My name is Marci Goodwin. I am a homeschool mom and real life scientist.

My goal is to not be THE Homeschool Scientist, but to encourage others to

be A homeschool scientist.

At TheHomeschoolScientist.com, you will find experiments, reviews, and

resources to help you make science interesting, applicable, and fun. If

science is scary, you are doing it wrong.

Science is fascinating and it is every where!

Why Do Endangered
Species Matter?

When we talk about endangered species, we mean an organism with

population numbers so low that it is in danger of becoming extinct. While

extinction is a natural process that has been happening throughout time

(think dinosaurs, mammoths, sabre-toothed tigers), the rate of present day

extinctions are alarming.

WHY THE INCREASE IN ENDANGERED

SPECIES?

Some scientists calculate present day extinction rate for plants and animals

to be 1000 to 10000 higher than the natural “background rate” with

dozens of species going extinct daily. What is causing this surge in

extinctions?

Scientists believe that 99% of current endangered and threatened species

are at risk of extinction because of human activities. These activities include

habitat destruction, spread of disease, pollution, introduction of non-native

species, hunting, and global warming.

WHY LEARN ABOUT ENDANGERED SPECIES?

Each ecosystem on Earth is full of life that lives together symbiotically. This

means that each one is needed for the survival and prosperity of the others.

When an organism is removed, it is up to another to fill its role or the rest of

the ecosystem will feel the effects. We need to understand that biodiversity

is important.
Endangered species in such large numbers are our environmental canaries

in the coal mine. They are indicators of problems in the

ecosystem. Learning about these organisms and their role in nature can

help us not only bring back their populations, but help to end the factors

that threatened them in the first place.

5 ENDANGERED SPECIES YOU SHOULD

KNOW ABOUT

In this ebook, we are going to learn about five endangered species that are

facing a variety to conditions that are causing their populations to

decrease at an alarming rate. If action is not taken, these species will

become extinct very soon.

Hopefully, after reading this book and studying these animals you will

develop an appreciation of biodiversity, an understanding of why

endangered species should cause us concern, and what you can do to help

their recovery.

ANIMAL REPORT PRINTABLE

Study the animals in this ebook more in depth with this free animal report

printable.
Why Is The Rusty Patch
Bumble Bee Important?

There are over 4,000 bee species in North America alone. 50 of those

species are considered bumble bees. Bumble bees are often what we

picture when we think of bees: black and yellow, fat, and fuzzy.

Rusty Patch Bumble Bees Facts

One North American bumble bee of recent interest is the Rusty Patch

Bumble Bee. Rusty Patch Bumble Bees are naturally found in the tall grass

prairie and grasslands of the upper midwest and northeast regions of the

United States. Historically, their range reached from eastern North Dakota

to Maine and Quebec, south to northern Georgia. They live in colonies in

abandon rodent burrows and other ground cavities.

Rusty Patch Bumble Bees are relatively large bumble bees and can be

identified by their black heads, yellow abdomens, and black rear sections.

What sets these bees apart are the rust-colored patch on the back of their

abdomens.
The Decline Of The Rusty Patch Bumble Bees

Up until the late 1990s, the Rusty Patch Bumble Bee was a fairly common

bumble bee in its natural range that included 28 U.S. states and 2

Canadian provinces. Since 2000, they have only been found in 13 states

and 1 province. A field study from 2007-2009 revealed that the historic

range of the Rusty Patch Bumble Bee had decreased by 85% and the

population had decreased by 95%.

Research has suggested that the decline in Rusty Patch Bumble Bee

populations are due to introduced commercial bee species, habitat

destruction, and pesticide use.

Because of the recent decline in numbers of pollinators in general, farmers

have noticed a decrease in crop production. Buying and releasing

commercially raised bees for pollination purposes seemed like a great idea.

The only problem is that some of those bees spread a pathogenic fungus,

Nosema bombi, throughout the North Americas bee population. The wild

bees had little resistance to this pathogen and died.

Habitat destruction is a problem for many species. The Rusty Patch Bumble

Bee thrives in open tall grass areas such as prairies where they can have

access to many flowering plants and safe places to grow their colonies.

Most of the grassy prairies of North America are now tilled for agriculture.

Along with agriculture comes pesticide use. Pesticides are sprayed on crops

on the former prairies to protect them from pests that might eat the plants.

These chemicals, also, kill the bees who live in and near these fields.

Pesticides sprayed in gardens and flower beds are just as harmful.

This alarming decline has cause the Rusty Patch Bumble Bee to be places

on the endangered species list in March 2017. It is the first bee in the U.S.
to be added to the endangered species list, but unfortunately, probably not
the last.

Why We Should Care About Rusty Patch

Bumble Bees

Like all bees, Rusty Patch Bumble Bees are important pollinators. They eat

the nectar from a variety of flowering plants, and in the process, transfer

pollen. According to a report published by the government of Canada,

these bees pollinate up to 65 different species of plants, including key food

crops, such as cranberries, plums, apples, onions, and alfalfa.

A report by the NRDC.org stated that bees in general pollinate $15 billion in

U.S. crops. Bees are not just good for nature, they are good for our food

supply and economy.

The Rusty Patch Bumble Bees are just one of 50 species of bumble bees

and one of over 4,000 species of bees in North America. So what if one
species disappears? The Rusty Patch Bumble Bees are one bee species of

many that have seen a sharp decline. If we do not stop the conditions that

are creating the demise of this species, similar species will follow suit. Our

ecosystems needs a variety of bees and in adequate numbers for a good

balance. Different bees pollinate different flowers. A healthy ecosystem has

lots of flowering plants and needs a good number of pollinators.

How To Help The Rusty Patch Bumble Bee

Many people across the country are waking up to the growing problem of

rapidly declining bee populations. Of the over 4,000 species of bees in

North America alone, half of them are seeing a sudden decrease in

numbers.

Organizations, universities, and government agencies are conducting

research and rolling out programs to protect and revive these species.

These include working with farmers and land owners to reduce the amount

of pesticide used or find alternative pest control practices, planting cover

crops, planting native grasses, and improve the management of grazing

lands.

These large groups of people aren't the only ones who can work to save

the Rusty Patch Bumble Bee. You can do any or all of the following.

Build a pollinator garden by adding flowering plants to your yard that

bloom spring to fall.

Plant native grasses and plants.

Do not use pesticides.

Leave undisturbed grassy areas where bumble bees might live.

Bee Conservation Links

Do you want to learn more about bee conservation? Visit these sites for

more information and programs.

Bumble Bee Watch - a citizen science project that tracks bees throughout
North America

Bring Back The Pollinators - register your pollinator garden

Bumble Bee Conservation Trust - learn about bumble bee conservation

efforts

Learn More About Bees

Studying Backyard Bees

Bee Anatomy Printables

Honey Bee Unit Study Resources

Insect Printable Worksheet

Can The Dusky Gopher
Frog Be Saved?

The story of the Dusky Gopher Frog, or Mississippi Gopher Frog, is an

interesting one. This amphibian once was found in abundance in the

longleaf pine forests of southern Louisiana, southern Alabama, and

southern Mississippi. Now, the Dusky Gopher Frog is only found in 3 ponds

in Mississippi. In 2012, the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation

of Nature) identified the Dusky Gopher Frog as one of the top 100 most

endangered species in the world.

Dusky Gopher Frog Facts

Considered a mid sized frog with the adults being 3 inches long

Dark colored ranging from black to gray to brown with dark spots and

warts on their backs

Feeds on insects, worms, spiders, and judging by the size of its large

mouth, possibly other frogs and toads

Male calls sound like a snoring human

Have been known to call underwater

When threatened, the frog defends itself by inflating the body and

secreting a pungent, bitter, milky liquid from the warts on its back

When exposed to light it covers its eyes with its front feet

Live in burrows created by the Gopher Tortoise, hense their name

Mostly found in the longleaf pine forests

Adults breed in fishless, shallow, temporary wetlands within the longleaf

pine forests

Why Is The Dusky Gopher Frog Endangered?

Longleaf pine forests historically covered 90 million acres in the South, from

Virginia to Texas. Now, less than 5% of these forests remain due to

deforestation by the paper industry, human development, urban sprawl,

and fire suppression. The decline of any habitat creates a decline in the

species that require the unique characteristics of that environment. The

Dusky Gopher Frog needs the ground cover of the forest for protection and

food, as well as the temporary wetlands of the forest for breeding.

Another species that, also, lives in the longleaf pine forests is the Gopher

Tortoise. The Gopher Tortoise and the Dusky Gopher Frog have a special

relationship. The frogs live in the burrows that the Gopher Tortoises create.

The destruction of the forest has caused the numbers of Gopher Tortoises

to decline. Lower numbers of tortoises mean less burrows for frogs. This

lack of shelter is, also, responsible for the decrease in the Dusky Gopher

Frog population.

These conditions have been devastating to the Dusky Gopher Frog.

Biologists estimate the total Dusky Gopher Frog population to now be less

than 250 in the wild.

Dusky Gopher Frog Recovery Plan

Because of the endangered status of the Dusky Gopher Frog, the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service was able to designate nearly 6,500 acres of land in

Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi as critical habitats for the frogs. This is

an important step in saving the remaining longleaf pine forests from further

deforestation. There are, also, efforts to restore the longleaf pine forests

across its historical range.

Herpetologists from several zoos across the U.S. are doing their part to

save the Dusky Gopher Frog. They have collected tadpoles from their

remaining breeding ponds and raised them in captivity. These frogs have

not been released back into the wild yet. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

is still working to identify suitable places for the re-introduction of the frogs

and are expected to do so in 2018.

Learn More About Dusky Gopher Frogs

Nature.org

U.S. Fish And Wildlife News

Arkive.org

Learn More About Frogs

Frog Unit Study Resources

What Makes The Frog Tongue So Cool? {plus a frog craft}

Frog Unit Study Pinterest Board

Are Endangered Blue
Whales Recovering?

Imagine a creature that can grow over 100 feet long, weigh up to 200 tons,

and have a heart the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. Sounds like something of

myths and legends, doesn't it? Or maybe something prehistoric?

This creature actually exists on Earth right now. The blue whale is the

largest animal on Earth. Actually, blue whales are the largest animal

to have ever lived. These huge creatures are distributed throughout the
world's oceans. However, even with this large expanse of habitat, the blue

whale population is very low and they are considered an endangered

species.

Let's learn more about the blue whale and why their endangered status is a

concern.

Blue Whale Facts

Where are blue whales found?

As stated before, blue whales are found throughout the world's oceans. In

the summer months, they migrate toward the poles to feed and then

migrate toward the equator to breed. Blue whales tend to stay in deeper

water and avoid coastal areas.

What do blue whales eat?

You might think that the largest animal in the world would be a fierce

predator feeding on whatever gets in its way. The truth is blue whales

actually have a pretty basic diet of some of the smallest animals in the

ocean.

Krill are mainstay of the blue whale diet. These small crustaceans are on

average only about 2 inches long. Blue whales filter krill out of large gulps

of water at the rate of 8000 tons per day of krill. That's about 40 million

krill!

What is the blue whale's life cycle?

Since blue whales are mammals, they give birth to live young one at a time

every 2 to 3 years. Newborn blue whales are huge in their own right. They

can be up to 25 feet long and weigh up to 3 tons. During the first 8-12

months of life, a baby blue whale will eat nothing but mother's milk and

gain 200 pounds a day.

When a baby blue whale can hunt krill on its own, it is weaned and can

then make the migration with the adults usually traveling in groups of 2

or 3. Blue whales can live on average 80-90 years.

Do blue whales make noise?

Blue whales are among the loudest animals on the planet. A jet engine

reaches levels of 140 decibels. The blue whale crushes that with an

impressive 188 decibels! Blue whale sounds can be heard up to 1000

miles away. Click HERE to listen to blue whale sounds.

Related Post: Ocean Animals Unit Study

Blue Whale Populations

Blue whales are considered endangered animals. Even though their habitat

spans all the Earth's oceans, there are an estimated 5-10,000 blue whales

in the Southern Hemisphere, and only around 3-4,000 in the Northern

Hemisphere according to the American Cetacean Society.

In 1900, a demand for whale oil and whale baleen drove the whaling

industry to hunt and kill blue whales by the thousands. Prior to 1900, there

was estimated to be 350,000 blue whales. Up to 99% of all Blue Whales

were killed by whaling before the International Whaling Commission

banned commercial whaling for blue whales in 1966.

Since then, recovery for the blue whale has been slow. New threats to the

blue whale have emerged, such as water pollution, habitat destruction, over

fishing of krill, and collisions with boats.

Impact Of Blue Whales On The Environment

Nature is a delicate balance with each species in an ecosystem having a

very special role. If one species is removed or its populations thrown out of

balance (either an profound increase or decrease), all other organisms will

be affected. Most of the time, these effects are not good.

Blue whales are at the top of the oceans' food chain. They eat huge

amounts of krill each day. If the blue whales disappear, this could cause an

increase in the number of krill in the ocean. This overpopulation

would mean more competition for the same food supply. This could lead

to a drop in the populations of other species.

Whale poop is even important to the oceans' food chain. Phytoplankton

need the nutrients in whale poop to thrive. Phytoplankton are an important

food source for lots of marine life, such as krill. Phytoplankton, also, plays

an important role in removing carbon from our atmosphere - up to 400,000

tons per year.

Learn More About Blue Whales

National Geographic

Blue Whale Interactive

Whale Blubber Project

How Big Is A Blue Whale Outdoor Science Activity

Blue Whale Paper Plate Craft

Blue Whale Coloring Page

Blue Whale Science Activities and Worksheets

Awesome video of blue whales underwater

Why Are Tigers
Endangered?

The tiger may be the most recognizable of the big cats. Bold, black stripes

on an orange background easily set it apart from the lions and panthers.

No trip to our local zoo is complete without checking out the tigers. Sadly,

these beautiful creatures may only exist in zoos within the next decade.
Subspecies Of Tigers

Tigers are the largest of the big cat species. The scientific name for all

tigers is Panthera tigris. However, there are 6 existing subspecies of tiger:

Bengal, Siberian, Indochinese, Malayan, South China, and Sumatran tigers.

Three other subspecies of tiger have gone extinct in the past hundred

years: Balinese, Javan, and Caspian tigers.

All remaining species of tiger are considered endangered. The South China

and the Malayan tigers are critcally endangered. There have been no

sightings of the South China tigers in several years, so that subspecies may

already be extinct. It has been predicted that all tigers may become extinct

in the wild within the next decade

Why Are Tigers Endangered?

Before the 1900s, tiger populations in the wild were probably over 100,000

animals with 9 subspecies. Now, only 6 subspecies remain and total only

3000 tigers.

Poaching is a large reason why tiger numbers have diminished.  In fact, the

extinction of the Caspian and the Javan tiger can be directly linked to

hunting. Tigers are still being hunted for their fur and other parts of their

bodies that are used in traditional medicine.

Tigers are large animals that require a lot of land to roam and hunt. They

require tall grasses and vegetation to hide in. Tigers, like all animals, need a

good water and food supply. When these are taken away, tigers cannot

survive.

Human development and the logging industry have destroyed much of the

tiger’s historical habitat. Some research indicates that over 93% of that

habitat is now gone. Not only does this take away what tigers need to

survive, it has forced tigers to come into more contact with humans. This

has led to farmers killing many tigers to protect their livestock.

Tiger Conservation Efforts

Organizations, such as the World Wildlife Fund, is supporting projects to

save the tigers from extinction. Efforts are being made to protect current

tiger habitats and corridors that link them together. These corridors are

important. They allow tigers from different DNA lines to mix and produce

more viable offspring. Inbreeding in a small population creates weakened

offspring that have a lower chance of survival.

The effort to end tiger poaching has taken on a two-fold approach. First,

additional wildlife rangers, monitoring tools, and stricter laws help to stop

poaching in the first place. Second, if there is no demand for tigers on the

black market, there would be no need for poaching. Shutting down the

black market tiger trade is another conservation strategy.

Tiger Facts

The tiger is the largest cat in the world.

Tigers live throughout Asia from cold, snowy mountain regions to hot

rain forests.

There are 6 subspecies of tiger thought to still be living.

Tigers are carnivores.

Tigers can swim and seem to like the water.

Tigers can grow up to 11 feet long and over 650 pounds.

No two tigers have the same stripe pattern.

A group of tigers is called a “streak” or an “ambush”.

Tigers hunt alone and at night.

Tigers can breed with lions and produce what is called tigons or ligers.

Learn More About Tigers

National Geographic Kids

All About Wildlife

Tigers World

World Wildlife Fund

Tiger coloring page

What Is Happening To Bats
Around The World?

Growing up in a rural area of farms and forests, animals were everywhere –

both wild and domestic. It was just part of everyday life to see cows, deer,

rabbits, dogs, cats, turkeys, or many other types of animals, including bats. I

have always had a love of animals, but the bats fascinate me most of all.

I think it’s the mystery that surrounds them. It’s easy to spot a large cow or

deer in a field, or even a quick rabbit in the yard. Bats, on the other hand,

are usually only spotted if you are looking for them. It’s hard to see a small,

swift, flying creature at night.

We used to spot bats flying around our security light in the evening

catching the insects the light attracted. Sometimes at dusk, we would see

bats flying above the water of the lake getting their fill of mosquitoes.

My dad always saw the need for bats as pest control. He made bat

houses and attached them to the sides of our barns and out-buildings. I

would watch for movement around the houses in the evening. Seeing them

drop out of the house and then take off and fly was an amazing sight.

Bat Facts

The mysteriousness of bats drew me to them, but it’s their many other

unique characteristics that really set them apart from other animals. Take a

look at these bat facts and I think you’ll be amazed by them, too.

Bats are the only mammals capable of actual flight.

Bats are nocturnal.

Bats are clean animals that regularly clean themselves.

There are over 1200 bat species worldwide.

Bats make up one fourth of the mammal species on Earth.

Bats find food in the dark by echolocation.

Bats species have varying diets. Some eat insects. Others eat fruit or

nectar, while others eat small animals.

Fruit and nectar eating bats are good pollinators.

Little brown bats can eat 1000 mosquitoes per hour.

There are only 3 species of vampire bats.

Over 50% of the U.S. bat population in the US is endangered or in steep

decline.

Some bats migrate, and others hibernate.

Bats can live over 20 years.

The largest bat species in the world is the Giant Golden Crowned Flying

Fox with weight of 2.5 lbs and a wingspan of over 5 feet!

The smallest bat species in the world is Kitti’s Hog-nosed bat weighing

1/4 ounce and is 1 inch long.

Why Are Bat Populations Declining?

Bats are an important part of their ecosystem. They keep insect

populations in check and are pollinators of plants. Sadly, in many areas of

the U.S. and the rest of the world, bat numbers are in a steep decline. Fifty

percent of the U.S. species of bats are endangered. Why?

White-Nose Syndrome

The major threat to bats in the U.S. right now is White-Nose Syndrome .

This is a fungus that iskilling hibernating bat species in the United States in

huge numbers. It is named for the white fungus that grows on the wings

and noses of the bats. This fungus is suspected to be an introduced species

and first discovered in cave bats in New York in 2006. By 2016, White-Nose

Syndrome spread to more than half of the U.S. states.

The fungus irritates the skin of the bats causing them to wake from their

hibernation before it is time. This causes the bats to burn through their fat

reserves too soon and they starve to death.

Wind Turbines

Another proposed threat to bats is wind turbines. The growing wind energy

industry is building an increasing number of turbines across the country.

Bats and birds are being injured and killed by the rotating blades. More

studies need to be done to give an accurate assessment of the numbers.

Habitat Destruction

When humans destroy natural areas, animal and plant habitat is destroyed.

Sometimes species will move into another area. Other times there is no

other areas with the proper food and habitat for that species. This causes

the decline in population numbers

Learn More About Bats

BatConservation.org

Bat Conservation International

What Is Killing The Bats?

KidZone bats facts and activities

Free Bat Unit Study

Build Your Own Bat House

The mission of The Homeschool Scientist
is to take the fear out of and put the fun
into science education.

Visit TheHomeschoolScientist.com

made with