Have you ever heard of the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse? It’s the most common jumping mouse in the U.S. with a tail that measures over 57% of its total body length and a jumping distance over one meter. And it’s also in danger of becoming extinct!

This furry rodent is just one of five new species added to the U.S. Endangered Species Act list, increasing the overall recognized total of endangered plants and animals in the U.S. to 280. Even though four species have been taken off the list, the addition of these five new species still raises concern for the future of all plants and animals.

A Huge Step for Eco Action

The Endangered Species Act was one of the most ecologically-important laws passed in the United States. It was passed by Congress in 1973 for the sole purpose of protecting endangered plants and animals. The laws outlined in the act provide protection for animals from direct human threats such as hunting and trapping, and they also serve to protect anything within the ecosystem and natural habitat of these animals. These ecosystems can be on both public and private property, but the majority of the plants that are protected are located on public land. Violations occur when existing state laws for trespassing or endangered species are broken. It is maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The Latest Additions

Human activity has greatly damaged the natural habitats of many of these endangered species, but it has also been human effort that has kept many of these species alive. Our environmental efforts have taken these four species off the list:

• Surprising Cave beetle, an insect found in Kentucky
• Warm Springs Zaitzevian riffle beetle, an insect from Montana
• Slender moonwort, a plant found in various western U.S. states and portions of Canada
• Basalt daisy, a plant found in Washington

Even though we have managed to take some species off the list, the list still continues to grow. In addition to the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse, the four other species that have been added to the list are:

• Las Vegas buckwheat, a plant found in Nevada
• Huachuca/Canelo Distinct Population Segment of the Arizona treefrog, an amphibian found in Arizona and Mexico
• Laurel dace, a fish found in Tennessee
• San Bernardino springsnail, a snail found in Arizona and Mexico

Time for Action

By identifying these five species new measures can be taken to protect them from going extinct. With the help of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the combined efforts of everyone living in and near the areas where these species are located, the identified plants and animals can continue to thrive and reproduce in their natural habitats.