List of endangered species threatened by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Encyclopedia
Following is a list of endangered species
threatened by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
based on a May 25, 2010 announcement that Defenders of Wildlife
and Southern Environmental Law Center had served a notice of intent letter to BP
for "unauthorized take of endangered species caused by the continuing oil spill and use of dispersants."
According to the Endangered Species Act
"take" means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct."
Beach mice
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
threatened by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry...
based on a May 25, 2010 announcement that Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife is a United States-based, 501 non-profit organization founded in 1947, "dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities." The organization is active in political interventions and lobbying aimed at protection of wildlife, and...
and Southern Environmental Law Center had served a notice of intent letter to BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
for "unauthorized take of endangered species caused by the continuing oil spill and use of dispersants."
According to the Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
"take" means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct."
Turtles
- Green turtle
- Hawksbill turtleHawksbill turtleThe hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. E. imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while E...
- Leatherback turtle
- Kemp's ridley turtle
- Loggerhead turtle
Beach miceOldfield MouseThe oldfield mouse or beach mouse is a nocturnal species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in the southeastern United States on sandy beaches, in corn and cotton fields, and in hedge rows and open timber tracts...
- Peromyscus polionotus ammobates (Alabama beach mouse)
- Peromyscus polionotus allophrys (Choctawhatchee beach mouse)
- Peromyscus polionotus phasma (Anastasia Island beach mouse)
- Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis (St. Andrew beach mouse)
- Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris (Southeastern beach mouse)
- Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis (Perdido Key beach mouse)
Birds
- Piping PloverPiping PloverThe Piping Plover is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck...
- Roseate TernRoseate TernThe Roseate Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in bill colour and minor plumage details....
- Whooping CraneWhooping CraneThe whooping crane , the tallest North American bird, is an endangered crane species named for its whooping sound. Along with the Sandhill Crane, it is one of only two crane species found in North America. The whooping crane's lifespan is estimated to be 22 to 24 years in the wild...
- Mississippi Sandhill Crane
- Everglade Snail Kite
- Wood StorkWood StorkThe Wood Stork is a large American wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It was formerly called the "Wood Ibis", though it is not really an ibis.-Appearance:...
- Least Tern