Conservation Action Plan
The Conservation Action Plan lists species at risk in Canada that have an identified need for hands-on intervention (e.g. captive breeding, nest protection, reintroduction) in their Species at Risk Act Recovery Plans. Our priority ranking (A, B, C) is based on status (endangered, threatened, special concern), need for intervention, and readiness for intervention. Bolded species are those with existing/recent Wildlife Preservation Canada support. Species at risk with existing strong support from other organizations are not included here (e.g. Whooping Crane, Woodland Caribou, Vancouver Island Marmot, Peregrine Falcon).
Category A: species listed as endangered or extirpated and direct intervention is required to save them
27 species
Mammals
Species |
Status |
Region |
| American Badger jeffersonii subspecies (Taxidea taxus jeffersonii) | Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) |
Extirpated | Prairies |
| Ord’s Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ordii) |
Endangered | Prairies |
Birds
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) |
Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast, Prairies |
| Spotted Owl caurina subspecies (Strix occidentalis caurina) |
Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Piping Plover melodus subspecies(Charadrius melodus melodus) |
Endangered | Atlantic Canada |
| Eastern Loggerhead Shrike migrans subspecies (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) | Extirpated (BC) / Endangered (Prairies) | Mountain – Pacific Coast, Prairies |
Reptiles & Amphibians
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) |
Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Pacific Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) |
Extirpated | Pacific Coast |
| Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) |
Endangered | Rocky Mountain |
| Blanchard’s Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) |
Endangered | Carolinian |
| Queensnake (Regina septemvittata) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
Insects
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Rusty-patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Karner Blue (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) |
Extirpated | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Taylor’s Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori) |
Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Island Marble (Euchloe ausonides insulanus) |
Extirpated | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Maritime Ringlet (Coenonympha nipisiquit) |
Endangered | Atlantic Canada |
| Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle (Cicindela patruela) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus) |
Extirpated | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Eastern Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius persius) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Five-spotted Bogus Yucca Moth (Prodoxus quinquepunctellus) |
Endangered | Prairies |
| Non-pollinating Yucca Moth (Tegeticula corruptrix) |
Endangered | Prairies |
Category B: species are listed as endangered / extirpated but further research is needed to understand the best methods for direct intervention OR species is listed as threatened and direct intervention is required immediately
22 species
Mammals
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Pacific Water Shrew (Sorex bendirii) |
Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Townsend’s Mole (Scapanus townsendii) |
Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
Birds
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) |
Endangered | Atlantic Canada |
| Vesper Sparrow affinis subspecies (Pooecetes gramineus affinis) |
Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Horned Lark strigata subspecies (Eremophila alpestris strigata) |
Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
Reptiles & Amphibians
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) |
Threatened | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence; Atlantic Canada |
| Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) |
Threatened | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) |
Threatened | Pacific Coast |
| Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis gloydi) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Massassauga (Sistrurus catenatus) |
Endangered (Carolinian), Threatened (Great Lakes – St. Lawrence) | Carolinian, Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Blue Racer (Coluber constrictor foxii) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana) |
Threatened | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Butler’s Garter Snake (Thamnophis butleri) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
Insects
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo) |
Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Yucca Moth (Tegeticula yuccasella) |
Endangered | Prairies |
| Sand-verbena Moth (Copablepharon fuscum) |
Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Ottoe Skipper (Hesperia ottoe) |
Endangered | Prairies |
| Hungerford’s Crawling Water Beetle (Brychius hungerfordi) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Dakota Skipper (Hesperia dacotae) |
Endangered | Prairies |
| Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) |
Endangered | Prairies |
| Bogbean Buckmoth (Hemileuca sp.) |
Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
Category C: species are listed as threatened / special concern and further research about direct intervention methods is needed
4 species
Mammals
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Ermine haidarum subspecies (Mustela erminea haidarum) |
Threatened | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
Birds
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) |
Threatened | All regions |
Reptiles & Amphibians
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) |
Threatened | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
Insects
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Yellow-banded Bumble Bee (Bombus terricola) |
Special Concern | All regions |