Endangered Species Act (ESA) Milestones | 1980s

A ranch dog retrieves a black-footed ferret in 1981 near Meeteetse, Wyoming, renewing recovery efforts for the species once believed to be extinct.

Kimberly Tamkun, USFWS

The 1980s were the dawning of a new era in the conservation movement, and the decade started dramatically with declaration of a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1981, which benefitted many whale species in danger of extinction. As the American public watched E.T. phone home and marveled over the digital compact disc (cd), conservationists celebrated the first Habitat Conservation Plan and the first delisting of a species – the brown pelican – due to recovery. Along with these conservation firsts, actions carried out under the ESA gave some of the nation's rarest species a second chance. The last remaining wild black-footed ferrets, California condors, and red wolves were captured in the '80s for intensive captive breeding programs—last ditch efforts to save these species from extinction.

1981

Secretary of the Interior James Watt seeks to redefine the regulatory definition of "harm."
The International Whaling Commission decides to enact a moratorium on all commercial whaling, after the reports of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in 1977 and 1981 identify many species of whales as in danger of extinction.
The Lacey Act is amended, making unlawful the interstate and foreign shipment of wildlife and plants taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of federal, tribal, state, or foreign law unlawful.
A ranch dog retrieves a black-footed ferret near Meeteetse, Wyoming, renewing recovery efforts for the species once believed to be extinct. Learn more [video].

1982

The ESA Amendments of 1982, which allow, by permit, the take of listed wildlife species incidental to otherwise lawful activities, provide that the permit holder implements a Habitat Conservation Plan. The 1982 Amendments also include a prohibition against collecting listed plants on federal lands.

1983

The first Habitat Conservation Plan is approved for the San Bruno elfin butterfly, and the San Francisco garter snake in San Bruno Mountain, California.

1985

The first species is delisted, or removed from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, following recovery: the brown pelican.
The Palau ground dove, the Palau owl, and the Palau fantail are delisted following recovery.
Researchers discover fleas positive for sylvatic plague at Meeteetse, Wyoming. After much debate, biologists decide to capture some black-footed ferrets for a captive breeding program. Learn more.

1987

The American alligator is delisted following recovery. Learn more.
The red wolf is reintroduced back into the wild at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in eastern North Carolina, after a nearly 7 year absence. Learn more.
The last dusky seaside sparrow dies in captivity. Learn more.

1988

The ESA Amendments of 1988, which includes the creation of an annual expenditures report for monies spent on endangered species conservation by all federal and state agencies, and several new criteria for planning for species recovery.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captures the last nine wild California condors from the wild in an effort to prevent the species' extinction through captive-breeding programs at the San Diego and Los Angeles Zoos. Read the news release.