To: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Docket # FWS–R5–ES–2013–0097

Save the Red Knot!

Victory! The creator of this petition declared the campaign a success. You can still sign the petition to show support.

I support the listing of the red knot rufa subspecies (Calidris canutus rufa) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

Why is this important?

The Red Knot is a small, plump, reddish shorebird - and a true wonder of nature.

With a wing span of only 20 inches, these tiny explorers migrate almost 20,000 miles each and every year.

But the Red Knot population has declined almost 90% since 1989. It went from being among North America’s most abundant bird species to the brink of extinction in less than 20 years. Climate change, overfishing of horse shoe crabs (their key food source) and other factors are to blame - but now it's up to us to save them.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to protect the Red Knot rufa under the Endangered Species Act. Doing so would not only benefit the Red Knot, but other shorebirds since many other species have similar long migrations and are declining due to habitat pressures. But in order for The FWS to follow through on this recommendation to turn into a real listing your help is needed.

The 90-day public comment period closes soon and before it does we need as many people as possible to support strong protections for these miraculous fliers.

The Red Knot is just one of many species threatened with extinction in our country. From beetles to birds to bats hundreds, if not thousands of animals are disappearing. The Red Knot rufa could easily become one of them if action is not taken today. Do your part to keep another species from disappearing. Extinct means forever.

You can learn more about the Red Knot at our Facebook page facebook.com/FriendsoftheRedKnot
Or our website: http://www.friendsoftheredknot.org/