Consultation on amending the list of terrestrial species at risk (January 2015): chapter 4

The List of Species Eligible for an Amendment to Schedule 1

Status of the recently assessed species and consultation paths

On October 15, 2014, COSEWIC submitted 27 assessments of species at risk to the Minister of the Environment for species that are eligible to be added to Schedule 1 of SARA. Nineteen of these are terrestrial species and 8 are aquatic species. COSEWIC also reviewed the classification of species already on Schedule 1, in some cases changing their status. Five terrestrial species are now being considered for down-listing on SARA (to a lower risk status) and 4 terrestrial species are now being considered for up-listing on SARA (to a higher risk status). In all, 25 terrestrial species that are eligible to be added to Schedule 1 or to have their current status on Schedule 1 changed are included in this consultation (Table 1).

The three other terrestrial species are bats for which COSEWIC submitted an emergency assessment in February 2012 and confirmed their status as Endangered in November 2013 (Table 2). Consultations for these bat species were conducted in July–August 2014 and all three species were added to Schedule 1 of SARA as announced on December 17, 2014. The three bat species are included in this document for your information but are not a part of the current consultation. See details on the SARA listing for the three bat species.

COSEWIC also submitted the reviews of species already on Schedule 1, confirming their classification. Thirteen of these reviews were for terrestrial species. These species are not included in the consultations because there is no regulatory change being proposed (Table 3).

For more information on the consultations for aquatic species, visit the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website.

Providing comments

The involvement of Canadians is integral to the process, as it is to the ultimate protection of Canadian wildlife. Your comments matter and are given serious consideration. Environment Canada reviews all comments it receives by the deadlines provided below.

Comments for terrestrial species undergoing normal consultations must be received by April 15, 2015.

Comments for terrestrial species undergoing extended consultations must be received by October 15, 2015.

Most species will be undergoing normal consultations. For the final consultation paths, please see the Species at Risk Public Registry website after January 13, 2015.

For more details on submitting comments, see "Comments solicited on the proposed amendment of Schedule 1."

Table 1: Terrestrial species recently assessed by COSEWIC eligible for addition to Schedule 1 or reclassification

Reclassification: Species eligible for addition to Schedule 1 (16)

Status: Endangered (4)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Vascular Plants Tweedy's Lewisia Lewisiopsis tweedyi BC
Arthropods Oregon Branded Skipper Hesperia colorado oregonia BC
Arthropods Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee Bombus bohemicus YT NT BC AB SK MB ON QC NB PE NS NL
Amphibians Eastern Tiger Salamander (Prairie population) Ambystoma tigrinum MB
Status: Threatened (5)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Lichens Eastern Waterfan Peltigera hydrothyria QC NB NS
Vascular Plants Hare-footed Locoweed Oxytropis lagopus AB
Arthropods Audouin's Night-stalking Tiger Beetle Omus audouini BC
Arthropods Western Bumble Bee occidentalis subspecies Bombus occidentalis occidentalis BC AB SK
Mammals Plains Bison Bison bison bison BC AB SK
Status: Special Concern (7)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Lichens Western Waterfan Peltigera gowardii BC
Vascular Plants Nahanni Aster Symphyotrichum nahanniense NT
Arthropods Western Bumble Bee mckayi subspecies Bombus occidentalis mckayi YT NT BC
Amphibians Wandering Salamander Aneides vagrans BC
Birds Grasshopper Sparrow pratensis subspecies Ammodramus savannarum pratensis ON QC
Birds Western Grebe Grasshopper Sparrow Aechmophorus occidentalis BC AB SK MB
Mammals WolverineTable 1 Footnote1 Gulo gulo YT NT NU BC AB SK MB ON QC NL

Reclassifications: Up-list (4)

Status: From Threatened to Endangered (3)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Arthropods Dakota Skipper Hesperia dacotae SK MB
Mammals Caribou (Central Mountain population)Table 1 Footnote2 Rangifer tarandus BC AB
Mammals Caribou (Southern Mountain population)Table 1 Footnote2 Rangifer tarandus BC
Status: From Special Concern to Threatened (1)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Vascular Plants Sweet Pepperbush Clethra alnifolia NS

Reclassifications: Down-list (5)

Status: From Endangered to Threatened (1)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Amphibians Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog Ascaphus montanus BC
Status: From Threatened to Special Concern (4)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Vascular Plants Water Pennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata NS
Arthropods Mormon Metalmark (Prairie population) Apodemia mormo SK
Mammals Caribou(Northern Mountain population)Table 1 Footnote2 Rangifer tarandus YT NT BC
Mammals Wood Bison Bison bison athabascae YT NT BC AB MB

Table 2: Terrestrial species recently added to Schedule 1 (no consultations)

Status: Endangered (3)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Mammals Little Brown Myotis Myotis lucifugus YT NT BC AB SK MB ON QC NB PE NS NL
Mammals Northern Myotis Myotis septentrionalis YT NT BC AB SK MB ON QC NB PE NS NL
Mammals Tri-colored Bat Perimyotis subflavus ON QC NB NS

Table 3: Terrestrial species recently reassessed by COSEWIC (no consultations - species status confirmation)

Reassesment: Status Confirmations (13)

Status: Extirpated (1)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Amphibians Eastern Tiger Salamander (Carolinian population) Ambystoma tigrinum ON
Status: Endangered (6)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Arthropods Mormon Metalmark (Southern Mountain population) Apodemia mormo BC
Arthropods Sand-verbena Moth Copablepharon fuscum BC
Amphibians Small-mouthed Salamander Ambystoma texanum ON
Birds Loggerhead Shrike Eastern subspecies Lanius ludovicianus ON QC
Birds Piping Plover circumcinctus subspecies Charadrius melodus circumcinctus AB SK MB ON
Birds Piping Plover melodus subspecies Charadrius melodus melodus QC NB PE NS NL
Status: Threatened (4)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Mollusks Dromedary Jumping-slug Hemphillia dromedarius BC
Amphibians Coastal Giant Salamander Dicamptodon tenebrosus BC
Birds Loggerhead Shrike Prairie subspecies Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides AB SK MB
Birds Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus BC Pacific Ocean
Status: Special Concern (2)
Taxon Species Scientific name Range
Reptiles Eastern Milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum ON QC
Birds Harlequin Duck (Eastern population) Histrionicus histrionicus NU QC NB NS NL

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