T
he thought of losing something forever triggers an
instinct to protect and preserve. Some charismatic
species naturally draw our attention. The threatened
river otter's playful reputation has captured many hearts over
the years. Today, thanks to reintroduction efforts several
decades ago, the river otter is using most of Nebraska's
major rivers and is under consideration for "delisting" or
removing it from protection under the Nebraska Nongame
and Endangered Species Conservation Act.
Sometimes, a threatened or endangered species acts like a
canary in a coal mine and can warn us about changes in the
environment. The classic example is the bald eagle, which
warned us of chemicals in the environment. But sometimes
the story is more complex. The pallid sturgeon decline
has taught us about the dynamic nature of big rivers and
floodplains, while the northern redbelly dace has taught us
about the importance of connected watersheds. Even the
minuscule American burying beetle is declining because of
habitat fragmentation. These are the stories that we know,
but there are undoubtedly other species declining that go
unnoticed.
Restoring an animal from the brink of extinctio n may
appear to have a narrow focus, but the solution often means
restoring ecosystems, with benefits beyond a single species.
Restoring grasslands for the American burying beetle means
that expansive grasslands are supporting many other declining
grassland species, as well as supporting cattle ranching.
Helping whooping cranes in Nebraska translates into
restoring wetland complexes, which also provides valuable
habitat for migrating flocks of shorebirds and waterfowl.
These wetlands also clean our drinking water.
The stories, and lessons, of each of these species are
worth listening to. After all, endangered means there is still
time. ■
Extinction is Final
Story by Kristal Stoner, Wildlife Diversity Program Manager
Photos by Joel Sartore, Creator of the National Geographic Photo Ark
River Otter
Lontra canadensis
Threatened
42 NEBRASKAland • MAY 2017
