Texas is home to 10 different Gould’s ecoregions as seen on the map above. Ecoregions are areas of land that share similar climate, topography, and soils. In this series, we will dive into each of Texas’ 10 ecoregions one Critter Connections issue at a time. Next up – the Piney Woods!
Texas is a large state with many different ecosystems, which allows for great diversity in plant and animal life. This also means that Texas is home to many living things that are threatened or endangered. If a living thing is given the status of threatened or endangered, it means that it is in danger of becoming extinct. A threatened species is likely to become endangered at some point in the future if efforts are not made to improve its living conditions. If a species is extinct, it means that there are no longer any living members of that species on earth. One example of an extinct animal in the wild is the Spix’s Macaw, which is the bird from the movie Rio. In Texas there are over 100 plants and animals that are listed as federally endangered or threatened which means that they are at risk of becoming extinct everywhere. There are another 100 species that are not federally listed, but are state listed as threatened or endangered, which means that they are at risk of extinction within Texas, but may have healthy populations in other parts of the world. Plants and animals are added to one of these lists under a law called the Endangered Species Act. This law was created to help and conserve living things that are in danger of becoming extinct.
Texas is home to 10 different Gould’s ecoregions as seen on the map above. Ecoregions are areas of land that share similar climate, topography, and soils. In this series, we will dive into each of Texas’ 10 ecoregions one Critter Connections issue at a time. Next up – the Piney Woods! 
Texas is a large state with many different ecosystems, which allows for great diversity in plant and animal life. This also means that Texas is home to many living things that are threatened or endangered. If a living thing is given the status of threatened or endangered, it means that it is in danger of becoming extinct. A threatened species is likely to become endangered at some point in the future if efforts are not made to improve its living conditions. If a species is extinct, it means that there are no longer any living members of that species on earth. One example of an extinct animal in the wild is the Spix’s Macaw, which is the bird from the movie Rio. In Texas there are over 100 plants and animals that are listed as federally endangered or threatened which means that they are at risk of becoming extinct everywhere. There are another 100 species that are not federally listed, but are state listed as threatened or endangered, which means that they are at risk of extinction within Texas, but may have healthy populations in other parts of the world. Plants and animals are added to one of these lists under a law called the Endangered Species Act. This law was created to help and conserve living things that are in danger of becoming extinct.