Endangered species are plants and animals that are so rare they are in danger of becoming extinct. Species become endangered because of changes to the earth that are caused either by nature or by the actions of people. Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Congress provided for the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. Today there are more than 600 endangered or threatened species in the United States. EPA works with other government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and the Fish and Wildlife Service to carry out this mandate by minimizing human effects on watersheds and other ecosystems where these species live. In particular, EPA strives to protect endangered species from the use of pesticides and other dangerous substances and to make information available so that people can better protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• Pesticides: Endangered Species Protection Program
  ESPP's mission is to protect endangered species from pesticides and to minimize the program's impact on pesticide users.
• Endangered and Threatened Species
  This page provides information on endangered and threatened species.
• Endangered Species Picture Book
  This book, which tells you about 21 endangered and threatened plants and animals found in the United States, can be printed out and colored.