Endangered Species Days

Endangered Species Day is an annual, globally recognized day—held on the third Friday of May (this year it was on the 15th) dedicated to celebrating, learning about, and taking action to protect threatened and endangered species. But a day is not enough.

It was established by the U.S. Congress with leadership from the National Wildlife Federation and has since grown into an international observance involving schools, conservation groups, communities, and individuals.

So why does the day matter? More than one‑third of U.S. wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. Endangered Species Day is a reminder that conservation efforts—legal protections, habitat restoration, and community engagement—work and are urgently needed. 

Here are some suggestions for things you can do any day of the year that make a difference.

• Attend or host events such as talks, film screenings, habitat cleanups, or nature walks. 
• Learn about endangered species, from mountain gorillas to red wolves to local pollinators. 
• Participate in creative activities, like chalk art contests or wildlife crafts for kids. 
• Support conservation organizations through volunteering or donations. 
• Raising awareness of species at risk of extinction and the ecosystems they depend on.
• Highlighting conservation successes, such as species whose populations have rebounded thanks to the Endangered Species Act.
• Encouraging public action—from habitat restoration to citizen science.
• Celebrating biodiversity, especially local wildlife and habitats.

Review the complete list for New Jersey

dep.nj.gov/njfw/wildlife/endangered-threatened-and-special-concern-species