Whooping Cranes
Whooping cranes are making a comeback. These majestic birds were once found over much of North America. Then they were hunted, and their wetlands were drained for farmland, making them an endangered species. Places like the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, though, give some hope. They are breeding cranes and teaching them to migrate. Because of these programs, their numbers have gone from a handful to over 300 in the wild today. But whooping cranes continue to face threats, including habitat loss and pollution.
