The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
Signed into law in 1972, MMPA prohibits the "taking" of marine mammals, meaning the the act of "hunting, killing, capture, and/or harassment of any marine mammal; or, the attempt at such." Execution of the act was divided between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). MMPA plays a critical role in the survival of marine mammals and the health of the country's ocean ecosystem as it was one of the first pieces of legislation to protect the oceanic ecosystem on a federal level.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA)
Before this legislation, there were several, precursor pieces of legislation enacted, such as the Endangered Preservation Act of 1966 and the Endangered Species Act of 1969. When Congress passed the newer ESA in 1973, it recognized the importance of endangered animals and plants and their "esthetic, ecological, educational, recreational, and scientific value to our Nation and its people." It further expressed concern that many of our nation's native plants and animals were in danger of becoming extinct. The purpose of the ESA is to protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. It is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Furthermore, Section 4(d) of the act directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries to issue regulations that are necessary and advisable to conserve species listed as threatened.
The Utah Division of Natural Resources states that nobody may move, take, nor possess a Utah Prairie Dog without obtaining a federal permit. The Utah Prairie Dog is an endangered species and is only found in sparse colonies in central and southwestern Utah. Also, the Department of Fish and Wildlife (FWS) has listed the animal as threatened while the IUCN lists the animal as endangered. Habitat loss, including urban development, is the biggest threat to this small rodent.
The Polar Bear is the largest bear species and largest land predator in the world; however, climate change and hunting threatened the species' survival. The passage of MMPA banned the hunting of Polar Bears, except by indigenous people, and banned any harassment of the animal. Furthermore, in 2008, the animal was listed by the Department of Interior as a a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
North America houses over 400 species of mammals that reside in the various biomes on the continent, from small rodents like the American Beaver and Marmot to colossal animals like the Moose or Grizzly Bear. According to the IUCN, twenty species of North American mammals are endangered. Interestingly, North American mammals are diverse, not only in terrestrial species, but also marine mammals: dolphins, whales, manatees, etc. Furthermore, some mammals are considered "food animals," such as pigs, cattle, and sheep, which most are exempt from cruelty laws. The Animal Legal Defense Fund estimates that 9 billion animals (including mammals) are killed for food every year in the United States.
To know what animals, including mammals, are in South Carolina and which are endangered, several state agencies and organizations exist to educate the public on conservation programs.
