Stories and blurry footage of Bigfoot often grab headlines. Whether you’re a Sasquatch believer or not, the idea of a rare animal living in the American wilderness captivates our minds. There are some real-life animals that are equally as elusive as Bigfoot and, unfortunately, some of them face extinction. Luckily, knowledge is power, and learning about some of the rarest animals in North America is a good first step in keeping them around.
Red Wolf
The red wolf has avoided extinction for years. Organizations and agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have continuously worked to protect this animal, which is only found in the wild in northeast North Carolina. There are fewer than 20 wild wolves in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, but there are around 241 red wolves in sanctuaries and other animals-care facilities to help protect the population. Part of the FWS plan is reintroducing the animals in human care back into the wild.Â
Black-Footed Ferret
Biologists believed the black-footed ferret had already gone extinct in the 1950s. That was until a dog found one on a Wyoming ranch in 1981. From there, the FWS began work to protect the animal. Today, biologists believe 280 black-footed ferrets live in captivity, with around 200 left in the wild. The animal spends most of its life underground in prairie dog holes in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana.
Vaquita
According to the World Wildlife Foundation, the vaquita is the rarest marine mammal in the world. People first discovered the tiny porpoise in the 1950s. Scientists now believe there are only about 10 left in the wild. Recently, the International Whaling Commission released an extinction alert to warn the fishing community about the critical state of the animal. It’s the first alert of its kind. The animal’s only habitat is the northern part of the Gulf of California.
Florida Panther
The Florida panther is a subspecies of mountain lion that lives in southern Florida around Everglades National Park. The Sunshine State is the only place on the East Coast with an active mountain lion population. Researchers believe there are about 200 Florida panthers still in the wild. This number is a significant improvement from the 1970s, when wildlife conservationists believed there were only about 20 left. Mountain lions are already known to be elusive, so seeing one of these big cats is very rare.
