What do the humpback whale, Louisiana black bear, and Tennessee purple coneflower have in common? They’ve all been saved from disappearing from the United States by the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Signed into law on December 28, 1973, the ESA makes it illegal to kill, capture, or harm any species listed as endangered. It also protects the habitats where those plants and animals live. Plus, it provides funding to help each species recover. 

Today, about 1,600 plants and animals in the U.S. are protected by the ESA. It has been called one of the world’s most successful conservation laws. About 99 percent of the species under its protection have been saved from extinction.

“There’s a long list of species that were in bigtime decline that we brought back over the last 50 years,” says Randy Robinson. He works at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That’s one of the government agencies that manages the ESA.

Here’s a look at three of the law’s biggest success stories.

What do the humpback whale, Louisiana black bear, and Tennessee purple coneflower have in common? They’ve all been saved from disappearing from the United States. And it’s all thanks to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 

The ESA was signed into law on December 28, 1973. The law makes it illegal to kill, capture, or harm any species listed as endangered. It also protects the habitats these plants and animals need to survive. Plus, it provides funding to help each species recover. 

Today the ESA protects about 1,600 plants and animals in the U.S.. It has been called one of the world’s most successful conservation laws. About 99 percent of the species under its protection have been saved from extinction. 

“There’s a long list of species that were in big-time decline that we brought back over the last 50 years,” says Randy Robinson. He works at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That’s one of the government agencies that manage the ESA.

Here’s a look at three of the law’s biggest success stories.

This fierce-looking bird has been our national symbol since 1782. It has also become a symbol of how the ESA can help endangered species make a comeback.

By 1963, only about 400 pairs of bald eagles were left in the contiguous U.S. One reason was the widespread use of a pesticide known as DDT. Farmers used the chemical on their crops to kill insects. But it also harmed bald eagles and other birds. DDT causes them to lay thin-shelled eggs that crack before chicks can hatch.

The U.S. banned DDT in 1972. Six years later, bald eagles in the lower 48 states were added to the endangered species list.* The ESA further protected the wetlands where bald eagles often breed.

These laws helped the eagle population soar. The birds were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Today, more than 300,000 bald eagles take flight across the contiguous U.S.

^{*Bald eagles in Alaska were never on the endangered species list. About 30,000 bald eagles live there today.}

This fierce-looking bird has been our national symbol since 1782. It has also become a symbol of how the ESA can help endangered species make a comeback. 

By 1963, only about 400 pairs of bald eagles were left in the contiguous U.S. One reason was the widespread use of a pesticide known as DDT. Farmers used the chemical on their crops. It was meant to kill insects. But it also harmed bald eagles and other birds. DDT causes them to lay thin-shelled eggs. Those eggs crack before chicks can hatch. 

The U.S. banned DDT in 1972. Six years later, bald eagles in the lower 48 states were added to the endangered species list.* The ESA further protected the wetlands where bald eagles often breed. 

These laws helped the eagle population soar. The birds were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Today more than 300,000 bald eagles take flight across the contiguous U.S.

^{*Bald eagles in Alaska were never on the endangered species list. About 30,000 bald eagles live there today.}

These marine mammals are the largest of all sea lions. Males can weigh as much as 2,500 pounds. They feast on up to 35 pounds of salmon, cod, and other fish in one meal.

The sea lions’ big appetite is one reason their population suffered. Fishermen often shot the hungry animals to prevent competition for their catch. By the late 1970s, only about 18,000 eastern Steller sea lions remained in the wild.

They were added to the endangered species list in 1990. Part of the ESA’s recovery plan involved educating the public, including fishermen, about the importance of protecting the sea lions. By 2010, the population had grown to more than 70,000. The eastern Steller sea lion was removed from the list three years later.

These marine mammals are the largest of all sea lions. Males can weigh as much as 2,500 pounds. They eat up to 35 pounds of fish in one meal. They feast on salmon, cod, and other fish.

The sea lions’ big appetite is one reason their population suffered. Fishermen often shot the often hungry animals. They wanted to prevent competition for their catch. By the late 1970s, only about 18,000 eastern Steller sea lions remained in the wild. 

They were added to the endangered species list in 1990. Part of the ESA’s recovery plan involved educating the public. This included fishermen. They taught them about the importance of protecting the sea lions. By 2010, the population had grown to more than 70,000. The eastern Steller sea lion was removed from the list three years later.