ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROFILE

PROTECTION STATUS: Threatened

YEAR PLACED ON LIST: 1993

CRITICAL HABITAT: 197,303 acres in California’s San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties designated in 2007

RANGE: Southern California and Baja California, Mexico

THREATS: Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation resulting from urban and agricultural development, unnaturally frequent fire, livestock grazing, invasion of exotic grasses, off-road vehicles, pesticides, and military training activities

POPULATION TREND: Coastal California gnatcatchers have experienced widespread habitat destruction. By 1997, no more than 2,900 pairs remained in the United States; gnatcatchers and coastal sage scrub were devastated in the 2003 and 2007 Southern California firestorms.