There are over 1,600 endangered and threatened species across the U.S. These species require support from charities and volunteers to survive. “Endangered” signifies a species facing a very high risk of extinction in the near future, while “threatened” indicates a species likely to become endangered soon.
Examples in the U.S. include:
- Red Wolf.
- Florida Panther.
- Florida Manatee.
- Loggerhead Sea Turtle.
- California Condor.
- Mississippi Gopher Frog.
- San Joaquin Kit Fox.
- Franklin’s Bumble Bee.
Of the above, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognises the red wolf as an endangered species and grants it protected status. It is one of the primary species that requires protection.
Globally, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) aims to regulate international trade in endangered species. However, what is the current situation in the U.S.?
To review the likelihood of such support being manifest in a given territory, the non-profit organization SmileHub has released new reports on the Best Charities for Animals and the Best States for Wildlife Protection in 2025 to highlight leaders in conservation and inspire greater efforts to protect wildlife.
To highlight the best states for wildlife protection and the ones that have the most room to improve, SmileHub compared each of the 50 states using 17 key metrics. The data set ranges from the number of animal charities per capita to the presence of endangered species legislation to the overexploitation of wild species.
The outcomes were:
Best States for Wildlife Protection
1. Vermont
2. Wyoming
3. Colorado
4. Oregon
5. California
6. Alaska
7. Maine
8. New Hampshire
9. Washington
10. Minnesota
And in contrast, States in Need of Improvement
41. North Carolina
42. Tennessee
43. Arizona
44. Ohio
45. Georgia
46. Kansas
47. Alabama
48. South Carolina
49. Mississippi
50. Nevada
The data set contained some variances of interest. In terms of voluntary bodies, California has the most animal charities per capita – 8.6 times more than Delaware, which has the fewest charities.
With another measure, suitable open spaces Alaska has the most state land designated for parks and wildlife – 61.6 times more than Kansas, which has the least.
A further factor is the willingness of the state to step in to support volunteer efforts. On this measure, Alaska has the most state wildlife grant dollars per capita – 53.6 times more than California, which has the least.
