America's Endangered Species

By Daniel Stone
For plants and animals that rely on a consistent habitat, a changing Earth is a dangerous place. Certain species will need human assistance if they’re to survive extinction. Such help, however, isn’t always easy to come by. While the U.S. government offers some animals protection under the Endangered Species Act, there are some—like the Akikiki bird pictured here and found on the Hawaiian island of Kauai—that have been a candidate for official protection for 15 years or more. There are about another 300 imperiled species still awaiting federal protection, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Here’s a look at those under the most severe threat.