The Florida Key Deer Could Be Facing Extinction

The Key deer is America’s smallest deer at about 30 inches, residing in the Florida Keys. The federal government has recently announced its proposal to rid the Key deer of its endangered species status.

Sun Sentinel expresses how detrimental this could be to the deer because of the environmental threats that human development and rising sea levels in the Keys pose.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service claims that studies exemplify no significant threats to the deer therefore, on the August 22 public forum in the Keys, they will be removing the deer from the Endangered Species list.

The Key deer is extremely successful in attracting tourists around the world, but the Key deer species appears to be in danger.

Due to the Key deer’s habitat being at less than 2 feet above sea level, climate change may make the deer even more vulnerable. A rise in sea level can wipe out the deers habitat and even lead to a great decline in population.

All of this has followed the Trump administration’s Monday announcement that changes the application of the 45-year-old Endangered Species Act. Critics believe this will truly affect plants and animals by speeding up loss.

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