860 Canadian wildlife species at risk and counting
As the list of imperiled wildlife species in Canada continues to grow, the urgency for conservation efforts becomes ever more apparent. This week, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) announced that five more species have joined the ranks of those at risk of extinction. With these additions, the national tally of species at risk has reached an unsettling 860.
New Species on the Brink
Among the newly assessed species, four have been classified as Endangered—a designation signaling their imminent risk of being lost from Canada. These include:
- A Northern Shorebird: Facing critical threats from habitat loss.
- An Extremely Rare Peat Moss: Vital for wetland ecosystems.
- Short-fruited Rush: Found only in Windsor, Ontario, with its largest remaining population located in the Ojibway Prairie Complex. This prairie is set to become one of Canada’s National Urban Parks, offering a glimmer of hope for its conservation.
- The Valley Grasshopper: Discovered in 2010 in the South Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, this insect is a testament to the region’s unique biodiversity. However, its habitat is under siege from expanding housing developments in this hot and dry region, which has become a hotspot for insect diversity.
“The south Okanagan Valley is a goldmine for insects, with new species found every year,” said Jennifer Heron, Co-chair of the Arthropods Species Specialist Subcommittee. “We came across the Valley Grasshopper there for the first time in 2010. This little grasshopper’s habitat is threatened by the potential rapid expansion of housing development.”
Short-billed Dowitcher © Christian Artuso (CNW Group/Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)
Glimmers of Hope Through Reassessment
While new additions to the endangered list underscore the growing biodiversity crisis, COSEWIC’s reassessments offer some cautious optimism. Of the seven species reviewed this year, three saw their risk status downgraded due to increased efforts in monitoring and discovery.
One notable example is the Lilliput mussel, a small freshwater species in southern Ontario. Previously classified as Endangered, its status improved to Special Concern after expanded search efforts revealed a broader distribution than initially believed.
Lilliput © Fisheries and Oceans Canada (CNW Group/Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)
“This mussel isn’t out of the woods yet and still has to contend with high pollution levels from cities and farms,” explained Dwayne Lepitzki, Co-chair of the Molluscs Species Specialist Subcommittee. “But it does occur more widely than we thought, which we only discovered because people went looking for it.”
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Challenges Facing Northern Bottlenose Whales
Not all reassessments yield positive outcomes. The Northern Bottlenose Whale, an iconic marine mammal of the North Atlantic, remains under severe threat. Despite slow recovery from historical whaling, the Endangered Scotian Shelf population, estimated to consist of fewer than 100 adults, faces modern challenges such as underwater noise and entanglement in fishing gear.
The Road Ahead for Conservation
As COSEWIC continues its vital work, the committee faces the daunting task of addressing an ever-growing number of species at risk. Limited resources and the scale of the biodiversity crisis make it clear that collaboration is essential.
“Our assessments rely on the efforts of many dedicated people across the country,” said David Lee, Chair of COSEWIC. “Given the magnitude of the biodiversity crisis, we need all hands on deck to identify, assess, and conserve species at risk of extinction in Canada.”
Engaging Communities in Conservation
One of the key takeaways from COSEWIC’s recent findings is the power of community science. Increased search efforts by volunteers and local organizations have directly contributed to better understanding species’ statuses and distributions. From the Lilliput mussel to other enigmatic creatures, public involvement is proving to be a crucial element in wildlife conservation.
Definition of COSEWIC terms and status categories:
Wildlife Species: A species, subspecies, variety, or geographically or genetically distinct population of animal, plant or other organism, other than a bacterium or virus, that is wild by nature and is either native to Canada or has extended its range into Canada without human intervention and has been present in Canada for at least 50 years.
Extinct (X): A wildlife species that no longer exists.
Extirpated (XT): A wildlife species that no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but exists elsewhere.
Endangered (E): A wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
Threatened (T): A wildlife species that is likely to become Endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction.
Special Concern (SC): A wildlife species that may become Threatened or Endangered because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.
Not at Risk (NAR): A wildlife species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk of extinction given the current circumstances.
Data Deficient (DD): A category that applies when the available information is insufficient (a) to resolve a wildlife species’ eligibility for assessment or (b) to permit an assessment of the wildlife species’ risk of extinction.
Species at Risk: A wildlife species that has been assessed as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern.
About Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
Since its founding, COSEWIC has played a pivotal role in assessing the status of Canada’s wildlife species, drawing on scientific research, Aboriginal traditional knowledge, and community input. These assessments inform government policies under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
As COSEWIC prepares for its next wildlife assessment meeting in Spring 2025, the message is clear: Canada’s biodiversity faces an uncertain future. But with increased efforts in conservation and community engagement, there is hope for turning the tide.
SOURCE Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
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