When most people hear the term endangered species, they think of manatees, grizzly bears, whales,and other charismatic species. If these creatures don’t live in your area, you might think there is nothing you can do to help endangered species. However, the current endangered species list contains almost 1300 plants, birds, fish, mammals, and other species that might live or migrate through your area.
Private citizens can play a critical role in protecting our country’s wildlife and plants. Pulling invasive weeds that are forcing out native plants, rebuilding crumbling river banks, planting native trees—these are things we all can do to help improve our lands so they provide a better place for wildlife and humans to live. All endangered and threatened species need your help,from the familiar and famous species, like the gray wolf, to the lesser-known but equally important species, such as the Karner blue—a butterfly—and the western lily.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Did you know that there are a number of endangered species living in the Central Valley? Among them are the San Joaquin kit fox, the Delta smelt, the Valley elderberry longhorn beetle and others. The World Wildlife Fund lists several species and information on the various factors putting them in danger of extinction at its ecoregion page, California Central Valley grasslands.
Want to find out some ideas for helping endangered animals and plants in California? The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has produced a brochure, What You Can Do to Help Wildlife and Plants (PDF), that shares tips on easy steps you can take every day to help endangered species. For example, a few of the tips include walking, riding a bike or using public transportation to get around as often as possible; using cloth napkins instead of paper ones; writing, calling or emailing the companies that send you junk mail and asking to be removed from their mailing lists; planting native bushes and trees in your yard that produce flowers or berries that can feed bees, birds and other wildlife. Download the brochure for more information about these ideas and dozens more.
A few other places to start:
- Join the City of Lodi and local students by collecting trash and recording what you find on Litterati.
- Plant a pollinator-friendly garden full of native plants, and include a bee bath or bee hotel.
- Work with Tree Lodi to plant a tree or two this Arbor Day.
- Create a poster exploring local conservation issues for the City of Lodi’s poster contest.
- Considering writing an article about a local endangered animal or plant and how to help it for the Mokelumne Current.