Everyday Ways to Help Endangered Species

Toxic chemicals used in housecleaning, laundry, dishwashing, and personal care products contaminate natural waterways, harming aquatic life and wildlife that eat aquatic animals. Buy non-toxic alternatives or make your own.

• Choose products with less packaging waste, and reuse household items whenever possible.
• Buy pre-owned items such as clothing, furnishings, toys, and electronics helps reduce the amount of energy consumed to create new materials and reduces waste production too.
• Opt for reusable beverage bottles instead of buying bottled drinks.
• Bring reusable bags to the grocery store, and bring your own washable container to restaurants for bringing food home.

• When throwing away trash, make sure it is bagged securely to prevent accidental littering.
• Recycle paper, plastics, glass, and metal cans at a local recycling center.
• Hazardous substances like paint, car fluids, pesticides, batteries, bleach, and other chemicals should be taken to a specialized facility for disposal.

When clearing vegetation, it's important to prevent loose sediment from washing into natural waterways where it can deplete oxygen from the water and destroy stream bed habitat. Use soil erosion control methods to protect nearby water resources for wildlife.

• Plant native vegetation in your yard and seek the help of your local university extension agent to discourage the spread of invasive plant species.
• Discourage wildlife from the unhealthy habit of raiding trash cans and pet bowls by keeping garbage in secure containers and taking pet food inside overnight.
• Disinfect bird baths and feeders often to avoid disease transmission.
• Seek out safer alternatives to herbicides and pesticides.

• To help combat overfishing and support conscientious seafood harvest, look for the Marine Stewardship Council label when buying seafood.
• Request MSC approved seafood from local restaurants and grocers.

If you're passionate about a particular endangered species or imperiled habitat, visit the EEC Conservation Directory to find a conservation organization whose mission matches your concerns. Donate, volunteer, or adopt an endangered species you'd like to support.

• Join the Center for Biological Diversity's Action Network to receive action alerts and other information about how you can help influence government agencies that make decisions and policies affecting endangered species.
• Sign up for Conservation International's eNewsletter to find fast, easy, and effective ways to engage in citizen advocacy on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Join the League of Conservation Voters, a national non-profit organization that works to turn environmental values into national priorities by advocating for sound environmental policies and electing pro-environment candidates who will adopt and implement such policies.

The more you learn about ways to help protect endangered species, the more knowledge you will be able to offer others. Instead of bombarding your family, friends, and community with dos and don'ts, share your experiences and efforts you've made to protect the natural environment. Leading by example is one of the best ways to inspire people to start making changes in their own lives.