Hobbies And Interests
Fish
As of May 2011, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) does not have any species of fish found in Lake Superior on its endangered species list. Some private environmental institutions have tried to change that. In 2008, the Huron Mountain Club requested the USFWS put the coaster brook trout on their endangered species list. This request was denied.
Gray Wolf
The Gray Wolf can be found throughout the boundaries of Lake Superior, but the largest population lives in Minnesota. It was put on the endangered species list in the 1970s when its population dropped to a handful because of hunting and human intervention. As of 2011, about 4,000 gray wolves were living in the Lake Superior area mainly because of preservation efforts and hunting bans.
Piping Plover
The piping plover, a tiny bird only found in the Midwest on the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, was put on the endangered list in 1986 when the government found there were only 16 breeding pairs remaining in the wild. As of 2011, its population was still not large enough to remove it from the endangered list. In 2007, the USFWS said there are about 63 breeding pairs near Lake Superior.
Whooping Crane
If you count its legs, the whooping crane can be 5 feet tall, which makes it the tallest bird in the United States. The whooping crane is one of only two crane species native to North America. It is on the list of endangered species all throughout the United States. Its small population around the boundaries of Lake Superior is monitored by the USFWS.
Canada Lynx
The Canada Lynx lives along the boundaries of Lake Superior, especially in the areas around Minnesota and Ontario. As of May 2011, its status is "threatened," which means that if it is not protected, it will become endangered in a few years. It has tuft ears and a brown and silver coat that sometimes exhibits black marks. It grows to about 40 inches long, or twice as large as a common house cat.