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SPECIES AT RISK in Canada

	Species at Risk Quiz	Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
	Habitat	Links & Contact Info
	Bald Eagle Success Story	Wheel of Species

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Start Species at Risk Quiz section

Species at Risk Quiz

1.	What are Species at Risk? In Canada, nearly 400 species of wildlife are considered to be "at risk", meaning they are at risk of extinction or extirpation. To date, 12 species of wildlife are known to be extinct in Canada, including a bird called the Passenger Pigeon and a fish called the Blue Walleye.

2.	Why are some wild species "at risk"? Wildlife face many challenges to their survival. Some of these stressors are natural, others are caused by people. Some examples of stress wildlife face are: habitat destruction climate change introduction of invasive species changing ranges of other species population cycles
3.	Why do wild plants and animals need habitat? Habitat is the place where wildlife can find the food, water, shelter and space they need to survive, and to raise their young. Wild plants and animals thrive in a variety of healthy wild spaces, including wetlands, forests, meadows and lakes.

4.	Do all Species at Risk become extinct? No! Recovery actions such as habitat restoration can protect all species. The Canadian government, together with many other organizations, is taking action through laws and recovery programs to prevent the loss of wild plants and animals. Examples: the new law, the Species at Risk Act recovery plans created by wildlife experts to help specific plants or animals outreach and education to let people know what they can do
5.	Who decides which species are "at risk" in Canada? The national list of Species at Risk is developed by many people working together to understand the health of wild populations. The national Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, the federal Minister of the Environment, aboriginal people with traditional knowledge, and the many experts who study wild plants and animals all contribute to the decision on which species are at risk of endangerment in Canada.

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End Species at Risk Quiz section : Start Habitat section

Habitat

habitat (hab'etat') n.

The environment occupied by individuals of a particular species, population, or community, including everything required during the life cycle, such as food, water, space, shelter, and breeding spaces.

Just like people, wildlife need an environment that is suitable for them.

Wild plants and animals thrive in a variety of healthy wild spaces, including wetlands, forests, meadows and lakes. Each species needs a place that provides food, water, shelter and a place to raise their young. Each species has unique habitat needs. A broad range of habitat is necessary to provide for different species' needs.

Types of Habitat

Forest

Photo of a Forest
- lands that are covered by a
dense growth of trees, plants
and underbrush

Grassland

Photo of Grassland
- low lands that are covered
with grasses and flowers

Water

Photo of a Stream
- areas of water, may include
ponds, streams, lakes

Wetland

Photo of a Wetland
- lands that are seasonally or
permanently covered by
shallow water, where abundant
water has favoured
water-tolerant plants

Habitat loss is the single greatest threat to plants and animals in Canada. Without the habitat they need many plants and animals are becoming endangered. There are over 400 species at risk in Canada. Over 160 of them are in Ontario. Species at Risk are in one of five categories: Extinct, Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or of Special Concern.

Habitat Loss and Degradation

One of the greatest risks to wildlife in Ontario is habitat loss and degradation. The loss of suitable habitat for wildlife is increasing, threatening wildlife populations across the province. Without enough habitat, animals and plants cannot survive.

Ontario has the most concentrated human population in Canada. This means that more and more land is being taken up by urban development, resulting in less habitat for plants and animals. Construction of houses and roads, logging of forests for paper and building materials, resource extraction, and increased agricultural pressures are having severe impacts on the amount of suitable habitat left for wildlife.

Habitat loss isn't always caused by physically changing the landscape. Sometimes even just the presence of people can disturb the wildlife enough to cause them to leave the area or not breed successfully. Hikers can disturb nesting grounds, cars on roadways are a threat to some snakes as they bask on the warm pavement and to turtles as they cross, and some wildlife are attracted to litter as they feed near roadways.

Understanding the human impact on wildlife is an important first step in helping to solve the problem.

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End Habitat section : Start Bald Eagle Success Story section

Bald Eagle Success Story

Photo of the Bald Eagle Bald Eagles are living proof that action can protect endangered species.

These large birds of prey are sensitive to environmental pollutants.

Clipart of a pesticide spray can Exposure to pesticides such as DDT thins eagle eggshells, causing them to break before the eaglets can hatch.

As a result, by the late 1970s there were less than 10 Bald Eagle pairs recorded in Ontario.

Photo of the Bald Eagles' Nest Laws were passed in Canada and the United States to prevent the unrestricted use of the pesticides, and conservationists cooperated with landowners to protect eagle nesting habitat.

Today, Bald Eagles thrive in many regions of the country. Bald Eagle populations are expanding slowly around the Great Lakes and on inland lakes.

Photo of eaglets The magnificent birds of prey are once again gliding high above the Great Lakes.

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End Bald Eagle Success Story section : Start Reduce, Reuse, Recylce section

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Be a wildlife conservationist
Learn all you can about wildlife and their habitats!
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Clipart of the recycle symbol

That means: use less, use more than once, and put it in the recycle box rather than the garbage!
Clipart of a blue recycle box

Leave wild plants and animals in their habitats

Clipart of wildflowers

Conserve water and energy at home and school

Clipart of Save Energy

Don't keep wild animals as pets

Clipart of a frog

Walk or ride when you can, instead of driving

Keep your cat indoors to protect wild birds

Clipart of a Cardinal

Respect protected areas — stay on trails and don't litter

Clipart of people on a hiking trail

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End Reduce, Reuse, Recylce section : Start Links & Contact Info section

Links & Contact Info

There are many great Web sites where you can find more information about Species at Risk in Canada. Visit some of the sites below.

Learn about Canada's wildlife and share your knowledge with others.

Species at Risk — Ontario Region
www.on.ec.gc.ca/speciesatrisk

Canada's Species at Risk
www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca

COSEWIC
www.cosewic.gc.ca

Hinterland Who's Who
www.hww.ca

Province of Ontario's Species at Risk
www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk/php *

Who took the wildlife photos on this Web site?
Click here for photo credits

For more information, contact us at:
Canadian Wildlife Service — Ontario Region
Wildlife.Ontario@ec.gc.ca

Environment Canada
4905 Dufferin Street
Downsview, ON M3H 5T4
Tel: 416-739-5830
Fax: 416-739-5845

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part of Environment Canada's Green Lane^TM
Webmaster Last Updated: 2005-10-10 Last Reviewed: 2005-10-10	Important Notices and Disclaimers URL: http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/sarwheel/main-e.cf m