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 or past 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
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 | Federal Status | Region |
| Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) | Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast, Prairies |
| Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) | Extirpated (BC) / Endangered (Prairies) | Mountain – Pacific Coast, Prairies |
| Loggerhead Shrike migrans subspecies (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) | Endangered | Ontario |
| Piping Plover circumcinctus subspecies (Charadrius melodus circumcinctus) | Endangered | Atlantic |
| Spotted Owl caurina subspecies (Strix occidentalis caurina) | Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Vesper Sparrow affinis subspecies (Pooecetes gramineus affinis) | Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
Reptiles & Amphibians
| Species | Federal Status | Region |
| Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) | Endangered | Carolinian |
| Blanchard’s Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi) | Endangered | Carolinian |
| Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) | Endangered | Nova Scotia |
| Blue Racer (Coluber constrictor foxii) | Endangered | Carolinian |
| Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) | Endangered | Carolinian |
| Fowler’s Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) | Endangered | Carolinian |
| Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) | Endangered | Carolinian |
| Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) | Endangered | Rocky Mountain |
| Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) | Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Queensnake (Regina septemvittata) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum) | Endangered | Carolinian |
| Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Unisexual Ambystoma, Jefferson Salamander dependent population (Ambystoma laterale – (2) jeffersonianum) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Unisexual Ambystoma Small-mouthed Salamander dependent population (Ambystoma laterale – (2) texanum) | Endangered | Carolinian |
Insects
| Species | Federal Status | Region |
| Eastern Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius persius) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Five-spotted Bogus Yucca Moth (Prodoxus quinquepunctellus) | Endangered | Prairies |
| Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus) | Extirpated | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Hungerford’s Crawling Water Beetle (Brychius hungerfordi) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Island Marble (Euchloe ausonides insulanus) | Extirpated | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) | Extirpated | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Maritime Ringlet (Coenonympha nipisiquit) | Endangered | Atlantic |
| Non-pollinating Yucca Moth (Tegeticula corruptrix) | Endangered | Prairies |
| Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle (Cicindela patruela) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Taylor’s Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori) | Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Yucca Moth (Tegeticula yuccasella) | 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
Mammals
| Species | Federal Status | Region |
| Pacific Water Shrew (Sorex bendirii) | Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) | Endangered | Prairies |
| Townsend’s Mole (Scapanus townsendii) | Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
Birds
Species |
Status |
Region |
| Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) |
Endangered | Atlantic Canada |
Reptiles & Amphibians
| Species | Federal Status | Region |
| Butler’s Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis gloydi) | Endangered | Carolinian |
| Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana) | Threatened | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) | Threatened | Pacific Coast |
| Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) | Threatened | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence; Atlantic |
Insects
| Species | Federal Status | Region |
| Bogbean Buckmoth (Hemileuca sp.) | Endangered | Great Lakes – St. Lawrence |
| Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee (Bombus bohemicus) | Endangered | All Regions |
| Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo) | Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
| Nine-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella novemnotata) | Not Listed | All Regions west of Atlantic |
| Ottoe Skipper (Hesperia ottoe) | Endangered | Prairies |
| Sand-verbena Moth (Copablepharon fuscum) | Endangered | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
Category C: species are listed as threatened / special concern and further research about direct intervention methods is needed
Mammals
| Species | Federal Status | Region |
| American Marten (Martes americana atrata) | Threatened | Newfoundland |
| Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) | Threatened | Saskatchewan |
| Ermine haidarum subspecies (Mustela erminea haidarum) | Threatened | Mountain – Pacific Coast |
Birds
| Species | Federal Status | Region |
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | Threatened | All Regions |
| Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) | Threatened | Prairies |
| Greater Sage-Grouse phaios subspecies (Centrocercus urophasianus phaios) | Extirpated | British Columbia |
Reptiles & Amphibians
| Species | Federal Status | Region |
| Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) | Threatened | Appalachian |
| Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) | Extirpated | Great Lakes/Carolinian |
| Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) | Endangered | Carolinian |
| Pacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) | Extirpated | British Columbia |
| Pacific/Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) | Extirpated | British Columbia |
| Pygmy Short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii) | Extirpated | British Columbia |
| Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) | Extirpated | Carolinian |
| Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata) | Threatened | Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Lowlands |
Insects
| Species | Federal Status | Region |
| Dakota Skipper (Hesperia dacotae) | Endangered | Prairies |
| Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis) | Endangered | Great Lakes Plains |
| Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) | Endangered | Prairies |