Pesticides and U.S. Endangered Species

Pesticides, by design, are toxic to plants, wildlife and people — and reducing or eliminating the most dangerous pesticides is necessary for a healthy planet.

One of the best laws we have to control pesticide use in the environment is the Endangered Species Act. Endangered wildlife are the proverbial canary in the coal mine when it comes to toxics of all kinds; they can show us the early effects of pesticides contaminating our waterways and wildlands. For example, before anyone knew how poisonous DDT is to humans, scientists discovered the chilling effects of the chemical on bald eagles and other wildlife species.

The Endangered Species Act requires that the government reduce the impacts of pesticides on imperiled wildlife like salmon, frogs and salamanders that are especially sensitive to these toxic chemicals. The more we do to protect the legal tools that can help us reduce pesticides harming wildlife, the more we can do to protect human exposure to those same pesticides.

The Center for Biological Diversity and Pesticide Action Network North America have filed the most comprehensive legal action ever taken to protect endangered species from harmful pesticides. Our lawsuit seeks Endangered Species Act protection for 214 threatened or endangered species in 49 states and two U.S. territories.

Learn more about Our pesticides REduction campaign.