Threatened

• The Endangered Species Act (ESA), has two classifications for protection under the act. The less serious of the two is threatened. To be listed as threatened, a species must be "likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future," according to the Fish and Wildlife Service (FSW).
  
  

Endangered

• The more serious classification is used when, according to the FSW, a species is "in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range." All species are eligible for inclusion except pest insects because, according to the act, their "protection under the provisions of this Act would present an overwhelming and overriding risk to man."
  
  

Criteria

• Five factors are taken into consideration when considering a species for protection. If one or more of the following factors are present, the species may be added to the list. The five factors are a) destruction or harmful changes to the species' habitat, b) over-utilization of the species for commercial or other purposes, c) predation or disease, d) inadequacy of existing protections and e) natural or man-made threats to the species.