List of Wildlife Species at Risk (Canada)

As of November 2024, the List of Wildlife Species at Risk has more than 600 entries for Canadian wildlife species considered at varying risks of extinction, including 301 classified as endangered species, 147 threatened species, 200 special concern, and 23 extirpated. About 65 percent of Canada's resident species are considered "Secure". More than 30 wildlife species have become extinct in the wild since the arrival of European settlers.
The Government of Canada maintains a list of all plant and animal species, or designatable units thereof, federally recognized as special concern, threatened, endangered, extirpated, and extinct in Canada under Schedule I of the Species at Risk Act.

SARA Schedule

Species listed on SARA Schedule I receive federal legal protections under the act, including the protection of individuals, populations, and their habitat from harm. Listing on Schedule I of the act also mandates the formation of a species recovery team and strategy. The addition of species or DUs to Schedule I is done annually by the Minister of the Environment, based on formal assessment recommendations by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, an independent committee of wildlife experts and scientists. COSEWIC assessments and IUCN designations by themselves are not to be confused with actual Schedule I listings as both of the former have no formal legal status in Canada.

Mammals

Extirpated mammals

Eschrichtius robustus — grey whale Mustela nigripes — black-footed ferretOdobenus rosmarus rosmarus — Atlantic walrus

Endangered mammals

Balaenoptera borealis — sei whale Balaenoptera musculus — blue whale

Dipodomys ordii — Ord's kangaroo rat
Eubalaena glacialis — North Atlantic right whaleGulo gulo — wolverine Hyperoodon ampullatus — northern bottlenose whale Marmota vancouverensis — Vancouver Island marmotMartes americana atrata — American marten Orcinus orca — orca or killer whale Rangifer tarandus caribou — woodland caribou Scapanus townsendii — Townsend's moleSorex bendirii — Pacific water shrewTaxidea taxus jacksoni — American badger; jacksoni subspeciesTaxidea taxus jeffersonii — American badger; jeffersonii subspeciesVulpes velox — swift fox

Threatened mammals

Antrozous pallidus — pallid batBalaenoptera physalus — fin whaleBison bison athabascae — wood bisonEnhydra lutris — sea otterDelphinapterus leucas — beluga whaleMustela haidarum — Haida ermineMegaptera novaeangliae — humpback whaleOrcinus orca — killer whaleOrcinus orca — killer whaleRangifer tarandus caribou — woodland caribouRangifer tarandus caribou — woodland caribouUrocyon cinereoargenteus — grey fox

Mammals of special concern

Balaena mysticetus — bowhead whaleBalaenoptera physalus — fin whaleCanis lycaon — eastern wolfEnhydra lutris — sea otterCynomys ludovicianus — black-tailed prairie dogEschrichtius robustus — grey whaleEuderma maculatum — spotted batEumetopias jubatus — Steller sea lionMicrotus pinetorum — woodland voleOrcinus orca — killer whalePhocoena phocoena — harbour porpoiseRangifer tarandus caribou — woodland caribouScalopus aquaticus — eastern moleSylvilagus nuttallii nuttallii — Nuttall's cottontail, nuttallii subspeciesUrsus maritimus — polar bear

Birds

Extirpated birds

Tympanuchus cupido — greater prairie-chicken

Endangered birds

Ammodramus henslowii — Henslow's sparrowAthene cunicularia — burrowing owlCentrocercus urophasianus urophasianus — greater sage-grouse, urophasianus subspeciesCharadrius melodus circumcinctus — piping plover, circumcinctus subspeciesCharadrius melodus melodus — piping plover, melodus subspeciesCharadrius montanus — mountain ploverColinus virginianus — northern bobwhiteDendroica kirtlandii — Kirtland's warblerEmpidonax virescens — Acadian flycatcherEremophila alpestris strigata — horned lark, strigata subspeciesGrus americana — whooping craneIcteria virens auricollis — yellow-breasted chat, auricollis subspeciesLanius ludovicianus migrans — loggerhead shrike, migrans subspeciesLoxia curvirostra percna — red crossbill, percna subspeciesMegascops kennicottii macfarlanei — western screech-owl, macfarlanei subspeciesNumenius borealis — Eskimo curlewOreoscoptes montanus — sage thrasherPicoides albolarvatus — white-headed woodpeckerPooecetes gramineus affinis — vesper sparrow, affinis subspeciesProtonotaria citrea — prothonotary warblerRallus elegans — king railSphyrapicus thyroideus — Williamson's sapsuckerSterna dougallii — roseate ternStrix occidentalis caurina — spotted owl, caurina subspeciesTyto furcata — American barn owl

Threatened birds

Accipiter gentilis laingi — northern goshawk, laingi subspeciesAegolius acadicus brooksi — northern saw-whet owl, brooksi subspeciesAnthus spragueii — Sprague's pipitBrachyramphus marmoratus — marbled murreletFalco peregrinus anatum — peregrine falcon, anatum subspeciesIxobrychus exilis — least bitternLanius ludovicianus excubitorides — loggerhead shrike, excubitorides subspeciesPhoebastria albatrus — short-tailed albatrossPuffinus creatopus — pink-footed shearwaterRiparia riparia - bank swallowRhodostethia rosea — Ross' gullVermivora chrysoptera — golden-winged warblerWilsonia citrina — hooded warbler

Birds of special concern

Bucephala islandica — Barrow's goldeneyeCoturnicops noveboracensis — yellow railDendroica cerulea — cerulean warblerFalco peregrinus pealei — peregrine falcon, pealei subspeciesHistrionicus histrionicus — harlequin duckIcteria virens virens — yellow-breasted chat, virens subspeciesMegascops kennicottii kennicottii — western screech-owl, kennicottii subspeciesMelanerpes lewis — Lewis' woodpeckerNumenius americanus — long-billed curlewOtus flammeolus — flammulated owlPagophila eburnea — ivory gullPasserculus sandwichensis princeps — Savannah sparrow, princeps subspeciesRhynchophanes mccownii — thick-billed longspurSeiurus motacilla — Louisiana waterthrushSynthliboramphus antiquus — ancient murreletTyto furcata — American barn owl

Reptiles

Extirpated reptiles

Actinemys marmorata — Pacific pond turtleCrotalus horridus — timber rattlesnakePhrynosoma douglasii — pygmy short-horned lizardPituophis catenifer catenifer — Pacific gophersnake

Endangered reptiles

Chrysemys picta bellii — western painted turtleClemmys guttata — spotted turtleColuber constrictor foxii — blue racerContia tenuis — sharp-tailed snakeDermochelys coriacea — leatherback seaturtleEmydoidea blandingii — Blanding's turtleEumeces septentrionalis — prairie skinkHypsiglena torquata — nightsnake

Threatened reptiles

Apalone spinifera — spiny softshellColuber constrictor flaviventris — eastern yellow-bellied racerCrotalus oreganus — western rattlesnakeElaphe gloydi — eastern foxsnakeElaphe spiloides — grey ratsnakeEmydoidea blandingii — Blanding's turtleHeterodon platirhinos — eastern hog-nosed snakePituophis catenifer deserticola — Great Basin gophersnakeRegina septemvittata — queen snakeSistrurus catenatus — massasaugaSternotherus odoratus — stinkpotThamnophis butleri — Butler's gartersnakeThamnophis saurita — eastern ribbonsnake

Reptiles of special concern

Charina bottae — rubber boaChrysemys picta bellii — western painted turtleColuber constrictor mormon — western yellow-bellied racerEumeces skiltonianus — western skinkGraptemys geographica — northern map turtleLampropeltis triangulum — milksnakeThamnophis saurita — eastern ribbonsnake

Amphibians

Extirpated amphibians

Ambystoma tigrinum — tiger salamander

Endangered amphibians

Acris crepitans — northern cricket frogAmbystoma texanum — small-mouthed salamanderAmbystoma tigrinum — tiger salamanderAscaphus montanus — Rocky Mountain tailed frogRana pipiens — northern leopard frogRana pretiosa — Oregon spotted frog

Threatened amphibians

Ambystoma jeffersonianum — Jefferson salamanderBufo fowleri — Fowler's toadDesmognathus ochrophaeus — Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanderDicamptodon tenebrosus — coastal giant salamanderSpea intermontana — Great Basin spadefoot

Amphibians of special concern

Ascaphus truei — coast tailed frogBufo boreas — western toadBufo cognatus — Great Plains toadGyrinophilus porphyriticus — spring salamanderPlethodon idahoensis — Coeur d'Alene salamanderRana aurora — red-legged frogRana pipiens — northern leopard frog

Fish

Extirpated fish

Erimystax x-punctatus — gravel chubPolyodon spathula — paddlefish

Endangered fish

Acipenser transmontanus — white sturgeon

Catostomus catostomus subsp. — Salish suckerCoregonus huntsmani — Atlantic whitefishCoregonus reighardi — shortnose cisco
Gasterosteus sp. — benthic Enos Lake stickleback
Gasterosteus sp. — benthic Paxton Lake stickleback
Gasterosteus sp. — benthic Vananda Creek stickleback
Gasterosteus sp. — limnetic Enos Lake stickleback
Gasterosteus sp. — limnetic Paxton Lake stickleback
Gasterosteus sp. — limnetic Vananda Creek sticklebackLampetra richardsoni var. marifuga — Morrison Creek lampreyMoxostoma hubbsi — copper redhorseNotropis anogenus — pugnose shinerNoturus stigmosus — northern madtom
Rhinichthys cataractae subsp. — Nooksack daceSalmo salar — Atlantic salmonSalvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis — aurora trout

Threatened fish

Ammocrypta pellucida — eastern sand darterAnarhichas denticulatus — northern wolffishAnarhichas minor — spotted wolffishCottus confusus — shorthead sculpin

Cottus paulus — pygmy sculpin
Cottus sp. — eastslope sculpinErimyzon sucetta — lake chubsuckerHybognathus argyritis — western silvery minnowLampetra macrostoma — Vancouver lampreyLepisosteus oculatus — spotted garNotropis percobromus — carmine shinerOsmerus spectrum — Lake Utopia dwarf smeltPercina copelandi — channel darterm

Fish of special concern

Acipenser medirostris — green sturgeonAnarhichas lupus — Atlantic wolffishCoregonus kiyi kiyi — Upper Great Lakes kiyiCottus hubbsi — Columbia sculpinEsox americanus vermiculatus — grass pickerelFundulus diaphanus — banded killifishFundulus notatus — blackstripe topminnowLepomis gulosus — warmouthMacrhybopsis storeriana — silver chubMinytrema melanops — spotted suckerMoxostoma carinatum — river redhorseMyoxocephalus thompsonii — deepwater sculpinNotropis bifrenatus — bridle shinerOpsopoeodus emiliae — pugnose minnow

Arthropods

Extirpated arthropods

Callophrys (Incisalia) irus — frosted elfinEuchloe ausonides — island marblePlebejus melissa samuelis — Karner blue

Endangered arthropods

Apodemia mormo — Mormon metalmarkBombus affinis - rusty-patched bumble beeBombus bohemicus - gypsy cuckoo bumble beeBrychius hungerfordi - Hungerford's crawling water beetleCicindela patruela - Northern Barrens tiger beetleCoenonympha nipisiquit — maritime ringletCopablepharon fuscum — sand-verbena mothErynnis persius persius — eastern Persius duskywingErynnis martialis - mottled duskywingEuphydryas editha taylori — Taylor's checkerspotGomphus ventricosus - skillet clubtailHemileuca sp. - bogbean buckmothHesperia ottoe — Ottoe skipperPapaipema aweme — Aweme borerIcaricia saepiolus insulanus — island blueProdoxus quinquepunctellus — five-spotted bogus yucca mothSatyrium semiluna — half-moon hairstreakSchinia avemensis — gold-edged gemSchinia bimatris — white flower mothSomatochlora hineana - Hine's emeraldStylurus amnicola - riverine clubtailStylurus laurae - Laura's clubtailStylurus olivaceus - olive clubtailTegeticula corruptrix — non-pollinating yucca mothTegeticula yuccasella — yucca moth

Threatened arthropods

Apodemia mormo — Mormon metalmarkEuphyes vestris — dun skipperHesperia dacotae — Dakota skipperOarisma poweshiek — Poweshiek skipperlingSatyrium behrii columbia — Behr's hairstreak, columbia subspecies

Arthropods of special concern

Danaus plexippus — monarchLimenitis weidemeyerii — Weidemeyer's admiralPolites sonora — Sonora skipper

Molluscs

Extirpated molluscs

Alasmidonta heterodon — dwarf wedgemusselCryptomastix devia — Puget Oregonian snail

Endangered molluscs

Allogona townsendiana — Oregon forestsnailEpioblasma torulosa rangiana — northern riffleshellEpioblasma triquetra — snuffboxHaliotis kamtschatkana — northern abaloneLampsilis fasciola — wavy-rayed lampmusselObovaria subrotunda — round hickorynutPhysella johnsoni — Banff Springs snailPhysella wrighti — hotwater physaPleurobema sintoxia — round pigtoeProphysaon coelureum — blue-grey taildropper slugPtychobranchus fasciolaris — kidneyshellSimpsonaias ambigua — mudpuppy musselVillosa fabalis — rayed bean

Threatened molluscs

Hemphillia dromedarius — dromedary jumping-slug

Molluscs of special concern

Gonidea angulata — Rocky Mountain ridged musselLampsilis cariosa — yellow lampmusselNearctula sp. — threaded vertigoOstrea conchaphila — Olympia oyster

Vascular plants

Extirpated vascular plants

Collinsia verna — spring blue-eyed maryDesmodium illinoense — Illinois tick-trefoil

Endangered vascular plants

Abronia umbellata — pink sand-verbenaActaea elata — tall bugbaneAdiantum capillus-veneris — southern maidenhair fernAgalinis aspera — rough agalinisAgalinis gattingeri — Gattinger's agalinisAgalinis skinneriana — Skinner's agalinisAmmannia robusta — scarlet ammanniaAntennaria flagellaris — stoloniferous pussytoesAristida basiramea — forked three-awned grassbalsamorhiza deltoidea — deltoid balsamrootBetula lenta — cherry birchBraya longii — Long's brayaBuchnera americana — blueheartsCamissonia contorta — contorted-pod evening-primroseCarex lupuliformis — false hop sedgeCarex juniperorum — juniper sedgeCastanea dentata — American chestnutCastilleja levisecta — golden paintbrushChimaphila maculata — spotted wintergreenCirsium pitcheri — Pitcher's thistleCollomia tenella — slender collomiaCoreopsis rosea — pink coreopsisCryptantha minima — tiny cryptantheCypripedium candidum — small white lady's-slipperDrosera filiformis — thread-leaved sundewEleocharis equisetoides — horsetail spike-rushEpilobium densiflorum — dense spike-primroseEpilobium torreyi — brook spike-primroseFrasera caroliniensis — American columboGentiana alba — white prairie gentianGeum peckii — eastern mountain avensIsoetes engelmannii — Engelmann's quillwortIsotria medeoloides — small whorled pogoniaIsotria verticillata — large whorled pogoniaJuglans cinerea — butternutJuncus kelloggii — Kellogg's rushLespedeza virginica — slender bush-cloverLiparis liliifolia — purple twaybladeLipocarpha micrantha — small-flowered lipocarphaLotus formosissimus — seaside bird's-foot lotusLotus pinnatus — bog bird's-foot trefoilLupinus densiflorus — dense-flowered lupine

Lupinus lepidus var. lepidus — prairie lupineLupinus rivularis — streambank lupineMagnolia acuminata — cucumber treeMeconella oregana — white meconellaMicroseris bigelovii — coast microserisMinuartia pusilla — dwarf sandwortMorus rubra — red mulberryOpuntia humifusa — eastern prickly pear cactusOrthocarpus barbatus — Grand Coulee owl-cloverOrthocarpus bracteosus — rosy owl-cloverPanax quinquefolius — American ginsengPedicularis furbishiae — Furbish's lousewortPhacelia ramosissima — branched phaceliaPhysematium obtusum — blunt-lobed woodsiaPlantago cordata — heart-leaved plantainPlatanthera leucophaea — eastern prairie fringed-orchidPlatanthera praeclara — western prairie fringed-orchidPolygala incarnata — pink milkwortPsilocarphus brevissimus — dwarf woolly-headsPsilocarphus elatior — tall woolly-headsPycnanthemum incanum — hoary mountain-mint
Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismifolius — water-plantain buttercupRotala ramosior — toothcupSalix jejuna — barrens willowSanicula arctopoides — bear's-foot sanicleSilene scouleri grandis — coastal Scouler's catchflySilene spaldingii — Spalding's campionSolidago speciosa — showy goldenrodStylophorum diphyllum — wood-poppySymphyotrichum frondosum — short-rayed alkali asterTephrosia virginiana — Virginia goat's-rueTonella tenella — small-flowered tonellaTrichophorum planifolium — bashful bulrushTrillium flexipes — drooping trilliumTriphora trianthophora — nodding pogoniaTriphysaria versicolor versicolor — bearded owl-cloverTripterocalyx micranthus — small-flowered sand-verbenaTriteleia howellii — Howell's triteleiaViola pedata — bird's-foot violet

Threatened vascular plants

Aletris farinosa — colicrootAzolla mexicana — Mexican mosquito-fernBartonia paniculata paniculata — branched bartoniaBraya fernaldii — Fernald's brayaBuchloe dactyloides — buffalograssCalochortus lyallii — Lyall's mariposa lilyCamassia scilloides — wild hyacinthCarex sabulosa — Baikal sedgeCastilleja rupicola — cliff paintbrushCeltis tenuifolia — dwarf hackberryCephalanthera austiniae — phantom orchidChenopodium subglabrum — smooth goosefootCirsium hillii — Hill's thistleCorydalis scouleri — Scouler's corydalisDalea villosa var. villosa — hairy prairie-cloverEleocharis tuberculosa — tubercled spike-rushEnemion biternatum — false rue-anemoneEurybia divaricata — white wood aster

Gentianopsis virgata subsp. victorinii — Victorin's gentianGymnocladus dioicus — Kentucky coffee-treeHalimolobos virgata — slender mouse-ear-cressHydrastis canadensis — goldensealHydrocotyle umbellata — water-pennywortHymenoxys herbacea — lakeside daisyIris lacustris — dwarf lake irisIris missouriensis — western blue flagIsoetes bolanderi — Bolander's quillwortJusticia americana — American water-willowLachnanthes caroliana — redrootLiatris spicata — dense blazing starLimnanthes macounii — Macoun's meadowfoamLophiola aurea — golden crest
Phlox speciosa subsp. occidentalis — showy phloxPolemonium vanbruntiae — van Brunt's Jacob's-ladderPolystichum lemmonii — Lemmon's holly fernPolystichum scopulinum — mountain holly fernPtelea trifoliata — common hoptreeSabatia kennedyana — Plymouth gentianSalix chlorolepis — green-scaled willowSanicula bipinnatifida — purple sanicleSericocarpus rigidus — white-top asterSmilax rotundifolia — round-leaved greenbrierSymphyotrichum anticostense — Anticosti asterSymphyotrichum laurentianum — Gulf of St. Lawrence asterSymphyotrichum praealtum — willowleaf asterSymphyotrichum prenanthoides — crooked-stem asterSymphyotrichum sericeum — western silvery asterTradescantia occidentalis — western spiderwortVaccinium stamineum — deerberry
Viola praemorsa subsp. praemorsa — yellow montane violet, praemorsa subspeciesYucca glauca — soapweed

Vascular plants of special concern

Achillea millefolium var. megacephalum — large-headed woolly yarrow
Armeria maritima subsp. interior — Athabasca thriftArnoglossum plantagineum — tuberous Indian-plantain
Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum — American hart's-tongue fern
Astragalus robbinsii var. fernaldii — Fernald's milk-vetchBidens amplissima — Vancouver Island beggarticks
Cicuta maculata var. victorinii — Victorin's water-hemlockClethra alnifolia — sweet pepperbushDeschampsia mackenzieana — Mackenzie hairgrassDryopteris arguta — coastal wood fernFraxinus quadrangulata — blue ashHibiscus moscheutos — swamp rose-mallowIsoetes prototypus — prototype quillwortJuncus caesariensis — New Jersey rushLilaeopsis chinensis — eastern lilaeopsisPotamogeton hillii — Hill's pondweedPsilocarphus brevissimus — dwarf woolly-headsPsilocarphus elatior — tall woolly-headsRosa setigera — climbing prairie rose
Salix brachycarpa var. psammophila — sand dune short-capsuled willowSalix silicicola — felt-leaf willowSalix turnorii — Turnor's willowSolidago houghtonii — Houghton's goldenrodSolidago riddellii — Riddell's goldenrod
Tanacetum huronense var. floccosum — floccose tansy

Mosses

Extirpated mosses

Ptychomitrium incurvum — incurved grizzled moss

Endangered mosses

Bartramia stricta — rigid apple mossBryoandersonia illecebra — spoon-leaved mossEntosthodon rubiginosus — rusty cord-mossFabronia pusilla — silver hair mossFissidens pauperculus — poor pocket mossScouleria marginata — margined streamside moss

Threatened mosses

Bartramia halleriana — Haller's apple mossPterygoneurum kozlovii — alkaline wing-nerved moss

Mosses of special concern

Bryoerythrophyllum columbianum — Columbian carpet mossEntosthodon fascicularis — banded cord-mossFissidens exilis — pygmy pocket mossSyntrichia laevipila — twisted oak moss

Lichens

Endangered lichens

Erioderma pedicellatum — boreal felt lichenHeterodermia sitchensis — seaside centipede lichen

Threatened lichens

Leptogium rivulare — flooded jellyskin

Lichens of special concern

Erioderma pedicellatum — boreal felt lichenNephroma occultum — cryptic pawSclerophora peronella — frosted glass-whiskers