Why should we care if a few species disappear?
It is hard to be more eloquent that Edward O. Wilson in his book, The Diversity of Life (1992) p346.

"Why should we care? What difference does it make if some species are extinguished, if even half of all the species on earth disappear? Let me count the ways. New sources of scientific information will be lost. Vast potential biological wealth will be destroyed. Still undeveloped medicines, crops, pharmaceuticals, timber, fibers, pulp, soil-restoring vegetation, petroleum substitutes, and other products and amenities will never come to light. It is fashionable in some quarters to wave aside the small and obscure, the bugs and weeds, forgetting that an obscure moth from Latin America saved Australia's pastureland from overgrowth by cactus, that the rosy periwinkle provided the cure for Hodgkin's disease and childhood lymphocytic leukemia, that the bark of the Pacific yew offers hope for victims of ovarian and breast cancer, that a chemical from the saliva of leeches dissolves blood clots during surgery, and so on down the roster already grown long and illustrious despite the limited research addressed to it."

"... Humanity coevolved with the rest of life on this particular planet; other worlds are not in our genes. Because scientists have yet to put names on most kinds of organisms, and because they entertain only a vague idea of how ecosystems work, it is reckless to suppose that biodiversity can be diminished indefinitely without threatening humanity itself."

How many endangered species are there in the Lake Champlain basin?
There are 29 endangered and 11 threatened species that are recognized by the state of Vermont. Of these, 24 are directly affected by the lake and lakeshores of Vermont. For a complete listing, please visit http://www.anr.state.vt.us/champ/PDFs/endangered.pdf.
These species include the beautiful black and common terns that use the lake islands for breeding, Pale vetchling, the slender, climbing perennial, the Common loon who often swallows lead fishing weights as the bird scours the bottom of the lake for food, and the ancient lake sturgeon who has existed since the dinosaurs.

For some perspective, there are 1,244 endangered species in the United States and its territories as of June 2001. Many of these species are plants.

What causes species to decline and thus become threatened or endangered?
Some of the main causes of species population decline are loss of habitat, pollution, and invasive species competition. However, the cause depends on the species: for instance, many birds species are dying out because of polluted water and loss of habitat. On the other hand, the decline of some invertebrates is caused by invasive species. And many threatened or endangered plants are simply shaded out by more aggressive exotic species that grow faster in a climate and environment where they have little natural competition .

Zebra Mussels are a good example of the damage an invasive species can do to native species, in this case causing native mussels to become endangered. Zebra mussels compete with native mussels (14 species in Lake Champlain) for food and habitat and they also suffocate the mussels by attaching to their shells in such large numbers that the mussels cannot open. Eight freshwater mussel species are now listed as threatened or endangered. Zebra Mussels were first found in Lake Champlain in 1993.

Have there been any success stories in the Lake Champlain basin?
Yes. Ospreys almost became extinct in the United States by the use of DDT, a pesticide widely used after World War II. DDT was banned in 1972. Since 1988 Central Vermont Public Service, a electric distribution utility, in cooperation with the state of Vermont, has been building nesting platforms, some on its electric towers. The program has been so successful in bring breeding osprey to Vermont that the process has not been initiate to remove the birds from the endangered species list. For more details on this programs visit. http://www.cvps.com/osprey/

What has happened to the Common Tern over the years in the Lake Champlain basin?
The common tern, the most prevalent tern in New York and Vermont, has long struggled against extinction. Several factors have contributed to this struggle. Initially, in the early 1900’s, terns were almost driven to extinction by plume hunters and then saved by legislation in 1918 that allowed their populations to again thrive by the mid 1920’s.

By the 1960s there were 300-400 pairs of breeding terns on Lake Champlain. However those numbers declined steadily in the 1970s and 1980s and reached a low of 50 pairs in 1988. They were placed on the endangered species list the following year. Owl predation, over-crowding of the nesting islands by Ring-billed Gulls and human disturbance were the primary causes of the decline.

Since 1988 state biologists and conservation organizations have been somewhat successful in protecting the terns' breeding grounds and providing enclosures on some of the islands.

Common Tern numbers have fluctuated over the past several years from 140 pairs in 1998-1999 to 180 pairs in 2001. Numbers dropped slightly in 2002 to 170 nesting pair. This represents a 300% increase in adult birds since 1988. For complete details on this successful restoration project visit http://vt.audubon.org/terns.html.

What can I as an individual do to help threatened or endangered species?
Recovery of these species is a complicated issue because their population declines are caused by many different factors from invasive species to pesticides. Most of the rare, threatened and endangered species are in decline because they do not have enough habitat to sustain their populations, or their habitat is polluted or disturbed in some significant way. Helping to protect priority lakeshore natural areas is key to the survival of these rare, threatened, and endangered species. Support of local land trusts is one way to help.

Land owners can be one of the most powerful forces in the fight against extinction. Because species need corridors and habitat beyond what the government and private organizations can provide, land owners play a key role in providing habitat to these species. If you are a land owner do not develop all of your land. If you are a gardener, choose native plants that will provide essential habitat for animals in the neighborhood, and also not contribute to the rapid spread of invasive plants. In addition, if you spot a rare, threatened, or endangered species, you can fill out a report at http://www.anr.state.vt.us/fw/fwhome/nnhp/index.html.

You can also participate in the Christmas Bird Count, adopt a stream, or monitor a watershed.

Other Endangered Species Resources on the Internet

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region - (http://northeast.fws.gov/)

List of Endangered Species in the Champlain Basin - Fish and Wildlife page of the Lake Champlain Basin Program. (http://www.anr.state.vt.us/champ/fwsum.htm#fish)

Vermont Audubon Tern Restoration Project - A description and current news on the Tern Restoration Project (http://vt.audubon.org/terns.htm)

Central Vermont Public Service Osprey Restoration Project - A description and current news on the Osprey restoration Project. ( http://www.cvps.com/osprey )

Vermont Bald Eagle Restoration Project - a description and current news on Vermont's Bald Eagle restoration project with live webcam of baby eagles. (http://www.cvps.com/eagles/index.shtml)