"U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declares 21 species extinct"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has declared 21 species, including birds, a bat, and several mussels, as extinct. These species were previously on the national list of threatened and endangered species. Factors such as habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and inadequate conservation efforts have contributed to their decline. While 99% of animals on the endangered and threatened list have not reached extinction, this serves as a reminder of the importance of conserving imperiled species before it's too late.