Endangered Species In Canada Essays - Environmental Conservation

Endangered Species in Canada There are many trillions of living creatures, and millions of different kinds of animals and plants share our planet (pg 46, Savage). Each Kind, or species, is special and unique. But, some of these species are in danger of disappearing forever, just as the passenger pigeon did. When the last member of a species disappears, that species is said to be extinct. Never again will there be another creature of that type on the planet for eternity. In the following essay it will be proven that Canadian Wildlife is becoming endangered due to the actions of man. Our Country was once filled with wildlife, and in the past, people hunted without worrying about the future. It seemed as though there was an unlimited amount of wildlife to be found. But overhunting has changed this and caused the extinction of many species. Canadian people of the past thought that if you protected animals from hunting, that would be enough. Today we now know that we must also protect there habitats. This is where they find food, water, shelter, and a place to have their young. Even if they are not hunted, animals will die out if these necessities cannot be met. In this century, loss of habitat has been one of the main caused of extinction (pg 8, Silverstein). People share the country and the planet with all the other creatures that live here. As human population grows, people spread out into areas that once were wild, and they compete with animals for living space. Mort times than not the animals lose in this battle. People cut down forests for lumber, clear fields for farms, and fill swamps to build towns, highways, and factories. Land can also be cleared for such things as mineral extraction. Wild animals get fenced out from areas that were once their homes. Larger animals are affected the worst because they need large open spaces, and when these areas shrink it is much more difficult to find food, and live without the fear of man. When a small lot of land is cleared for a home, not much is affected. When a whole city is built in what was once a wild area, an entire species of animal may be endangered. People often see wild animals as a nuisance and drive them away into the remaining wildland. But, as the Canada's wildland disappears, there will be fewer places for the wildlife to go. Even habitats that are left intact and not disturbed by human intervention, may infact be unsafe for wildlife because of pollution. Oil spills pollute the oceans and injure or kill water mammals and birds. When farmers spray their crops with pesticides to keep insects from eating their crops, many animals are harmed as well. Industries send out chemicals into the air, water, and land, with no concern about what it may be doing to the environment. Garbage dumps leak toxic chemicals into neighbouring lakes and rivers, also affecting birds and fish. The garbage that is dumped straight into the ocean poisons wildlife severely. Also, animals may mistake plastics and styrofoam for food or become strangled by plastic six-pack holders. Not all animals environments are poisoned by accident. Some rancher, for example, have put out poison for coyotes and wolves because these animals sometimes kill there cattle or sheep. People and industries must be more aware of what they are doing to the environment and how they affect the wildlife in general. Until recently, most people believed that the earth and everything on it belonged to humans and that we could do whatever we wa nted with any of the creatures that shared our planet. Human activities have driven many species to the verge of extinction, but there have been some encouraging examples of how society can save endangered animals. One of these is the American bison, or buffalo. The buffalo once was the symbol of the American wilderness. These huge animals roamed the plains, grazing in enormous herds. There were 30 million buffalo in the West in the 1860's. But, by 1883, hunters had killed all but 1,00 of them (pg 14, Silverstein). Fortunately, several people had captured some buffalo to raise in captivity. By 1890, 600 of the 700 remaining buffalo were in private hands. Growing numbers of people became concerned that with so few buffalo left they could soon become extinct. There are many ways that people, working through government and other organizations, can help save our wildlife. One is to pass laws