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Press Release
Fish and Wildlife Service Delists 21 Species from the Endangered Species Act due to Extinction
Action signals a 鈥榳ake-up call on the importance of conserving imperiled species before it鈥檚 too late鈥�
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FALLS CHURCH, Va. 鈥�  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is delisting 21 species from the Endangered Species Act due to extinction. Based on rigorous reviews of the best available science for each of these species, the Service determined these species are extinct and should be removed from the list of species protected under the ESA. Most of these species were listed under the ESA in the 1970s and 80s and were in very low numbers or likely already extinct at the time of listing.

鈥�Federal protection came too late to reverse these species鈥� decline, and it鈥檚 a wake-up call on the importance of conserving imperiled species before it鈥檚 too late,鈥� said Service Director Martha Williams. 鈥淎s we commemorate 50 years of the Endangered Species Act this year, we are reminded of the Act鈥檚 purpose to be a safety net that stops the journey toward extinction. The ultimate goal is to recover these species, so they no longer need the Act鈥檚 protection.鈥�

In September 2021, the Service from the ESA due to extinction. Following public comment on the proposed rule, the Service is withdrawing the delisting proposal for one species 鈥� Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis (a Hawaiian perennial herb in the mint family that has no common name) 鈥� due to new surveys identifying new, potentially suitable habitats for the species. Although the delisting proposal included the ivory-billed woodpecker, the Service will continue to analyze and review the information before deciding whether to delist the ivory-billed woodpecker.

The 21 species extinctions highlight the importance of the ESA and efforts to conserve species before declines become irreversible. The circumstances of each also underscore how human activity can drive species decline and extinction by contributing to habitat loss, overuse, and the introduction of invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species
and diseases.

Today鈥檚 announcement comes as the ESA turns 50 years old in 2023. Throughout the year, the Department of the Interior will celebrate the ESA's importance in preventing imperiled species鈥� extinction, promoting wildlife recovery, and conserving the habitats they depend on. The ESA has been highly effective and credited with saving 99% of listed species from extinction. Thus far, more than 100 species of plants and animals have been delisted based on recovery or reclassified from endangered to threatened based on improved conservation status, and hundreds more species are stable or improving thanks to the collaborative actions of Tribes, federal agencies, state and local governments, conservation organizations and private citizens.   

The final rule to delist 21 species from the ESA due to extinction will publish in the Federal Register on Oct. 17 and is effective 30 days after publication. More information on the final rule is available at  by searching under the docket number identified in the table below.

Species being delisted due to extinction:

Species Name

Found

Listed

Last Confirmed Sighting

Docket Number

MAMMALS

Little Mariana fruit bat

GU (Guam)

1984

1968

贵奥厂鈥揜1鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0104

BIRDS

    

FL, SC

1967

1980s

贵奥厂鈥揜4鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0110

Bridled white-eye     

GU (Guam)

1984

1983

贵奥厂鈥揜1鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0104

Kauai akialoa

HI

1967

1960s

贵奥厂鈥揜1鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0104

Kauai nukupuu

HI

1970

1899

贵奥厂鈥揜1鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0104

Kauai 驶艒驶艒

HI

1967

1987

贵奥厂鈥揜1鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0104

Large Kauai thrush

HI

1970

1987

贵奥厂鈥揜1鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0104

Maui 膩kepa

HI

1970

1988

贵奥厂鈥揜1鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0104

Maui nukupuu

HI

1970

1996

贵奥厂鈥揜1鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0104

Molokai creeper

HI

1970

1963

贵奥厂鈥揜1鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0104

Po`ouli

HI

1975

2004

贵奥厂鈥揜1鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0104

FISH

San Marcos gambusia

TX

1980

1983

贵奥厂鈥揜2鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0105

Scioto madtom

OH

1975

1957

贵奥厂鈥揜3鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0106

MUSSELS

AL, MS

1987

1984

贵奥厂鈥揜4鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0107

AL, GA, TN

1993

1973

贵奥厂鈥揜4鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0107

AL, MS

1987

1986

贵奥厂鈥揜4鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0107

AL, GA, TN

1993

mid-1980s

贵奥厂鈥揜4鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0107

Green-blossom pearly mussel

TN, VA

1984

1982

贵奥厂鈥揜4鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0108

AL, IL, IN, KY, TN, MI, OH, WV

1976

1969

贵奥厂鈥揜4鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0108

AL, AR, TN

1976

1972

贵奥厂鈥揜4鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0108

AL, TN

1985

1966

贵奥厂鈥揜4鈥揈厂鈥�2020鈥�0108

-FWS-

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov and connect with us on social media:  , ,  (formerly known as Twitter), ,  and .

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