Canadian wildlife species at risk October 2017: chapter 4

COSEWIC Assessment results

The tables that follow (tables 6-9) are organized by status category and then by taxonomic group. For each wildlife species, the information provided includes the common name, scientific name, population name, and range of occurrence in Canada (by province, territory or ocean). The most recent date of COSEWIC assessment is shown. The symbols on the left provide information on the outcome of reviews of classification (see explanation of symbols on page three).

The first COSEWIC "Endangered Wildlife Species List" was issued in 1978. In 1990, it was decided that all wildlife species considered by COSEWIC should be included in this document even if the wildlife species were in the Not at Risk or Data Deficient categories. Therefore, this document is divided into four sections. The first section (Table 6) includes wildlife species assessed and designated as Extinct. The second section (Table 7) includes wildlife species assessed and designated as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. The third section (Table 8) includes wildlife species assessed and found to be in the Not at Risk category. The fourth section (Table 9) includes wildlife species considered by COSEWIC and placed in the Data Deficient category because of insufficient scientific information to resolve a wildlife species' eligibility for assessment or to assess risk of extinction.

Information used for assessment

COSEWIC uses the best available information when assessing the status of a wildlife species, usually summarized in a COSEWIC status report. Assessments involve consideration of several factors, including the wildlife species’ eligibility for assessment and the status suggested by application of the quantitative COSEWIC criteria (adapted from those used by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN). Further information on status reports and the assessment process may be found on the COSEWIC website.

Range of occurrence

The geographical distribution of each wildlife species is defined in terms of the provinces, territories and oceans in which the wildlife species occurs. This information should not be treated as a complete listing of the jurisdictions that may be legally responsible for the conservation and management of a wildlife species. Several guidelines are followed when determining the range of occurrence of a wildlife species: for birds, it includes the Canadian breeding and wintering distribution; for marine species, it includes the oceans in which the species occurs (Arctic, Pacific or Atlantic); for freshwater species, it includes the province or territory in which the waterbody occurs; and, for species that occur in brackish waters, move between marine and freshwater environments, or move between oceans and land (e.g., Atlantic Walrus), range of occurrence includes a list of both the oceans and provinces in which the wildlife species occurs.

Abbreviations for provinces and territories:
Abbreviation Province Name
AB Alberta
BC British Columbia
MB Manitoba
NB New Brunswick
NL Newfoundland and Labrador
NS Nova Scotia
NT Northwest Territories
NU Nunavut
ON Ontario
PE Prince Edward Island
QC Québec
SK Saskatchewan
YT Yukon Territory

About the legal listing of wildlife species assessed by COSEWIC

COSEWIC meets twice a year to assess the status of wildlife species. Since 2004, COSEWIC submits an annual report to the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, which includes all assessment results for wildlife species that COSEWIC has assessed since its last report.

Wildlife species assessed by COSEWIC as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern will be considered for legal protection and recovery (or management) under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Based in part on COSEWIC's status assessment, the government may decide to add a wildlife species to SARA's List of Wildlife Species at Risk, to not add a wildlife species to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk, or to refer the matter back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration.

More information on the SARA listing process may be found on the SARA Public Registry.

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