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The VFWO has all or parts of 11 counties in its area of responsibility including: the coastal counties from Santa Cruz County south to western Los Angeles County; the desert portions of Los Angeles, Kern, and San Bernardino counties; Inyo County; and Mono County south of Conway Summit. Our office is responsible for managing the protection of over 100 various species.

Before a plant or animal species can receive protection under the Endangered Species Act, it must first be placed on the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. Our listing program follows a strict legal process to determine whether to list a species, depending on the degree of threat it faces. An “endangered” species is one that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. A “threatened” species is one that is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. The Service also maintains a list of plant and animals native to the United States that are candidates or proposed for possible addition to the Federal list. All of the Service’s actions, from proposals to listings to removals (“delisting”), are announced through the Federal Register.