Peregrine falcons may soon be taken off Missouri's endangered species list following years of conservation efforts. If approved, officials will also push for the raptors to be added to the falconry list.
The population of peregrine falcons sharply declined between the 1940s and 1960s due to the use of pesticides, like dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, or DDT, in their food chain, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
In 1970, the bird was put on the federal endangered species list and Missouri added it to the state endangered list four years later. In 1999, they were removed from the federal list due to intensive restoration efforts, MDC stated.