U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declares 21 species extinct

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday declared 21 species extinct.

"Based on rigorous reviews of the best available science for each of these species, the Service determined these species are extinct and should be removed from the list of species protected under the ESA [Endangered Species Act]," the agency announced in a press release. "Most of these species were listed under the ESA in the 1970s and 80s and were in very low numbers or likely already extinct at the time of listing."

Among those species declared extinct were 10 birds, two fish, one bat, and eight varieties of mussel. The final list of extinct species will appear in the Federal Register on Tuesday and take effect after 30 days.

The agency in September 2021 proposed removing 23 species from the list of those endangered, but ultimately opted against the inclusion of the Hawaiian herb Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis due to the discovery of additional potential habitats. The ivory-billed woodpecker, the second unincluded species, remains under agency consideration.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.