Endangered Species Day: How to Support Wildlife From Home, and Where to Donate
Here's how you can support endangered animals.
Updated May 14 2020, 5:35 p.m. ET
This Friday, May 15 marks the 15th annual Endangered Species Day, a U.S. holiday that recognizes the nationwide efforts put into conserving and protecting endangered species across the U.S.
Coronavirus quarantines mean there are no in-person events for Endangered Species Day this year, so most of us will be honoring endangered animals from home. Fortunately, there are so many ways to celebrate the holiday, whether you choose to do so on your own, with your family, or by tuning into a special livestream.
Read on for eight ways to support Endangered Species Day from home.
Watch “Racing Extinction” and a Live Q&A About the Film
Friday evening at 8:30 ET / 5:30 PT, the Endangered Species Coalition is hosting a live Q&A with the filmmakers behind Racing Extinction, a 2015 documentary about human influence on biodiversity loss. If you’d like to watch the livestream — and maybe ask a question! — make sure to watch the film before the Q&A, which will be sent to you as soon as you RSVP to the Q&A.
Donate to a Conservation Charity
Consider donating to a charity that supports conservation efforts in the U.S. — or even become a member! Below are a few major organizations where you can donate — but first, do some research to see if there are any local conservation charities that protect wildlife in your area.
Tour a National Park — Virtually
Since you may not be able to enjoy nature in-person right now, why not enjoy nature virtually? Google Earth offers free virtual tours of 31 U.S. National Parks, so you can explore from the comfort of your own home.
Watch a Netflix Documentary About Endangered Species
In addition to Racing Extinction, there are endless other documentaries about conservation and the natural world, many of which are on Netflix. Check out A Plastic Ocean, Trophy, Chasing Coral, or Our Planet.
Join the “What’s In My Backyard?” Challenge
Get outside this Saturday, May 16 in honor of Endangered Species Day by participating in the Endangered Species Coalition’s “What’s In My Backyard?” Challenge.
To participate, download the iNaturalist app, and follow these instructions published by the Endangered Species Coalition to join the Endangered Species Day festivities. Once you’re all set up on the app, get outside and start taking photos of as much of the local flora and fauna as you can (while observing social distancing measures, of course).
Ask the U.S. Government to Save the Endangered Species Act
U.S. Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt speaks as President Donald Trump looks on during an East Room event on the environment.
According to the NRDC, the Endangered Species Act is under attack by the Trump administration and other lawmakers who are anti-environmental protection. The organization has a template on its website, making it super easy to send a message to President Trump, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging them to stop gutting the ESA.
Endangered Species Story Time
Every morning at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT this week, the Endangered Species Coalition is hosting a live-streamed reading of a children’s book featuring endangered species on its Facebook page.
Support Local Wildlife With Your Lawn
If you have a backyard, there are so many ways you can use it to support local flora and fauna — and Endangered Species Day is the perfect day to begin your garden’s transformation. Check out our guide to creating a garden that gives back to the planet, and to supports local pollinators.
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