What Do California Condors, Gray Wolves, and Black-Footed
Ferrets Have in Common? National Parks Are Helping Them Recover
Did you know that California condors once ranged throughout the
skies of western North America, but by the 1980s, fewer than ten
remained? Or that gray wolves used to roam much of the United
States until habitat loss and predator control programs
virtually eliminated them? Now, both species are starting to
making a comeback, in large part due to the efforts of the
National Park Service, in conjunction with other federal
agencies and partners. National parks protect some of our
country’s most treasured landscapes and provide places to
rebuild populations of plants and wildlife that have suffered
due to human activities such as habitat destruction, over-
hunting, and environmental pollution. Restoring native species
also benefits the wider ecosystem, since each species plays an
important role in the overall functioning and health of its
community. Check out NPCA’s new GeoStory—an innovative m