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How Species Are Classified This publication is concerned with the status .° of 21 native wildlife species that have been classi- fied as "threatened" or "endangered" in Colorado. Threatened or endangered status can be given to a species by either federal or state classification. The federal classification is made by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, while state listing of species is by the Colorado Wildlife Commission through statutory authority. It's important to remember, however, that the classifications listed in this publication are not permanent. In some cases, animals will be reclassified from endangered to threatened, and if recovery plans are successful, they might eventually be removed from the lists altogether. That recently happened with the American white pelican, a species that had previously been listed as threatened in Colorado. On the other hand, it's also possible that more species will be added to the lists as human populations expand and compete for limited space. If you're interested in the status of a particular species, simply contact the Colorado Division Wildlife. Unfortunately, some animals simply fail to survive despite efforts made to save them. This disappearance of an entire species is called extinc- tion, and although the causes are not always known, aa. ` the actions of mankind are often at fault. When a species disappears from its historic habitat but still exists elsewhere, „`JS?a?o?sbv it's said to be extirpated. One example of an extinct species is the Carolina parakeet, the only representative of the parrot family that lived and bred in the United States. This bird primarily occurred on the Atlantic seaboard and eastern parts of the country, but it occurred in eastern Colorado at one time. The last known member of the species died in 1914. Its extinction was the result of mass slaughters by landowners (who were upset by the destruction the birds caused to crops) and by hunters. The river otter was considered extirpated in Colorado at one time, but the success of the recovery program discussed on pages 12 and 13 of this publication has brought the species back to the state, even if in an endangered status. Above right: The Carolina parakeet, now extinct, was the only native representative of the parrot family to breed within the United States. Above: The last reported species thought to be a yellowfin cutthroat was collected in 1891. Left: The bison is an example of an extirpated species in Colorado.