The Company We Keep

OUR ENDANGERED SPECIES

Three decades ago, America's first comprehensive endangered species legislation was passed by a nation alarmed by the imminent extinction of such creatures as its proud symbol, the bald eagle. As the years passed, the list grew to include a diverse collection of mammals, plants, butterflies, fish, and more, until today more than 950 American species are protected. This spectacular book celebrates them all as it traces the course of our wildlife conservation efforts, explores our increasingly fragile ecosystems, and examines the ever fiercer debate about how to balance the environmental needs of our wildlife and the economic demands of modern America. Packed with magnificent full-color photographs, maps, and special features, it is a glorious tribute to nature's diversity -- and an impassioned call for the preservation of America's imperiled natural heritage.