Endangered Species and Nova Scotia

Endangered species are living things threatened with extinction - the dying off of all organisms of their kind. Today, human are the biggest threat to other mammals. Humans have caused a rapid decline in the number of mammals in the wild for various reasons, including hunting, trading, and destruction of habitats.

Wildlife biologists use three main classifications for a species that faces possible extinction:

• Endangered - these species face the most serious threat of extinction. Their survival is dependent upon direct human protection.

• Threatened - these species are still numerous in some areas, but still face serious dangers and are under great threat.

• Rare - these species are not declining, but have small populations in a few protected environments.