Which agency administers the Endangered Species Act by determining when permits will be given to collect, trap, kill, or take endangered or threatened species?

• A. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• B. Environmental Protection Agency
• C. Department of Agriculture
• D. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Answer: (A)

The agency that administers the Endangered Species Act for most listed wildlife and issues permits to collectors, trappers, or those who would take endangered or threatened species is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under the Act, activities that could harm listed species must be reviewed and only permitted when they won’t jeopardize the species’ survival. The Fish and Wildlife Service handles listing decisions, recovery planning, and the permitting process for taking listed wildlife. The other agencies shown don’t issue these take permits: the Environmental Protection Agency regulates pesticides and environmental risks, the Department of Agriculture focuses on farming-related wildlife programs, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention deals with public health. So, the correct administration of these permits, in this context, is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.