The Endangered Species Act

Passage of the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Committee on the Status
of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 1976 represented a powerful new approach to wildlife protection. Endangered species are those considered in imminent danger of extinction, while threatened species are those that have declined significantly in total numbers
and maybe on the verge of extinction in certain localities. Valuable species are naturally rare or have been depleted by human activities to a level that puts them at risk. Bald eagles, grey wolves, brown (or grizzly) bears, sea otters, and a number of native orchids and other rare plants are considered either vulnerable or threatened.