Like canaries in a coalmine, indicator species are the first to show the effects of environmental alteration and degradation because they are more sensitive to biological changes within their ecosystems than are other species.

Monitoring the population status of indicator species can help evaluate ecosystem health and habitat integrity. The critically endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow and the Southwestern willow flycatcher are two indicator of the declining health of the Rio Grande and other Southwestern river ecosystems. The silvery minnow once occurred in more than 1,700 miles of the Rio Grande whereas today it exists in less than 100 miles of river, where it is hanging on by a thread. The Rio Grande silvery minnow is an indicator—if we choose to heed it—that many of the more than 450 species of wildlife that depend upon the Rio Grande are vulnerable.

The dramatic decline of the silvery minnow and the flycatcher demonstrates the devastating effects of a large-scale, and very ill conceived, government water development and unchecked municipal and agricultural water use.

Other indicator species Forest Guardians works to protect include:

Abert’s squirrel
Mexican Spotted Owl
Mountain Plover
Rio Grande Silvery Minnow
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
Swift Fox
Black footed ferret