Wood Turtle Makes Top 10 List of Species in Need of Protection

New report highlights nation’s species in danger of extinction

Charlottesville, VA – The wood turtle is one of the most in-need species for protection under the Endangered Species Act, according to a report released today by the Endangered Species Coalition. The report, “Without a Net: Top Ten Wildlife, Fish and Plants in Need of Endangered Species Act Protection,” demonstrates the critical need to reinvigorate the process under the Endangered Species Act used to protect our nation’s species on the brink of extinction.

“The Endangered Species Act is our nation's safety net for the wildlife, fish and plants at risk of disappearing forever,” said Tara Thornton, Northeast Representative of the Endangered Species Coalition. “Sadly, too many species are being left without the Act's protections. Some of these species are jeopardized by the bad behavior of political appointees, while some face the impacts of global warming and other threats. All share in the common need for the nation to renew our commitment to protecting imperiled species.”


Local Species In Need

Wood Turtles are the all-terrain vehicles of the turtle world sometimes even climbing into bushes to eat berries and stomping on the ground to draw earthworms to the surface to eat. The Wood Turtle’s range is Northern Virginia and West Virginia up through the Northeast and upper Midwest. However, the intense development of its native range has fragmented populations and shrunken available habitat which affects both the current population and limits their ability to repopulate areas. In addition, global warming threatens to alter their aquatic and terrestrial habitats.


Local Quote

"Wood Turtles face accumulating assault that can prevent many populations from persisting. The Turtles may not reproduce enough or survive long enough to make up for collection, predation, or road kill as well as losses from habitat alteration or development. Without strong decisive action, America will continue to lose its Wood Turtle" said Steve Krichbaum, Conservationist and Naturalist living in Virginia.


About the Report

The wildlife, fish and plants considered for the report were nominated by conservation and environmental organizations from around the country. A panel of scientists and advocates selected the final ten featured, as well as three honorable mentions. The highlighted species are:

Honorable Mention: Sand Dune Lizard, Grahams Penstemon, and the western population of the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl.

Repairing the Endangered Species Act
“All of the species nominated for this report – and hundreds of others – need our help to avoid extinction, even though they are not yet on the Endangered Species List,” stated Thornton. “We need to renew our commitment to protecting all wildlife, fish and plants in need and we look forward to working with the new congress and administration to restore how our nation implements the Endangered Species Act.”

The full report and information on each species is available online at www.StopExtinction.org.