report ofalber t a ’s endangered species …€¦ · threatened: a species likely to become...

J U N E 2 0 0 4

R E P O R T O F A L B E R T A ’ S

E N D A N G E R E D S P E C I E S C O N S E R V A T I O N C O M M I T T E E

ISBN No. 0-7785-4135-5 (Printed Edition)

ISBN No. 0-7785-4136-3 (On-line Edition)

Pub No. I/226 (Printed, On-line Edition)

For copies of this report, contact:

Information Centre – PublicationsAlberta Environment / Alberta Sustainable Resource DevelopmentMain Floor, Great West Life Building9920 - 108 StreetEdmonton, AlbertaCanadaT5K 2M4Telephone: (780) 422-2079

OR, visit our website at

<http://www3.gov.ab.ca/srd/fw/speciesatrisk/>

and select button ’Legal Designation’

This publication may be cited as: Fish and Wildlife Division 2005. Report of Alberta’s Endangered Species ConservationCommittee: June 2004. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Edmonton, AB. 36 pp.

WRITING/EDITING: Robin Gutsell, Lisa Matthias, Sarah Holt, Dave Ealey, John Lear

GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT: Broken Arrow Solutions Incorporated

REPORT OFALBERTA’S ENDANGEREDSPECIES CONSERVATIONCOMMITTEE JUNE 2004

1

Since the earliest days of ourprovince, Albertans have valued ourfish and wildlife resources.

Alberta remains committed toconserving our wild species and paysparticular attention to those thatmay be at risk. The steady progressmade by the Endangered SpeciesConservation Committee exemplifiesAlberta’s leadership in conservingvulnerable species.

The 2004 Endangered SpeciesConservation Committee Reporthighlights the committee’s manysuccesses. Important advances inrecovery planning andimplementation particularly includethe creation of recovery plans forpiping plover, western blue flag andperegrine falcon – the first provincialrecovery plans to be reviewed by thecommittee. The report alsoemphasizes the importance ofoutreach and education, co-operation and stewardship by allAlbertans. Stewardship efforts helpprevent species from becoming atrisk and contribute significantly toprovincial recovery work.

I commend the committee andscientific subcommittee members fortheir outstanding commitment.Over the last seven years, they haveprovided my Ministry with highquality information and prudentrecommendations that help usdevelop effective regulations,

HON. DAVID COUTTSMINISTER OF SUSTAINABLERESOURCE DEVELOPMENT WITHPEREGRINE FALCON NESTLING

Message from the Minister

policies and programs for managingspecies at risk. They represent manysectors and bring together a broadrange of values held by Albertans.

I sincerely appreciate the leadershipof Ivan Strang, MLA, WestYellowhead, who has served asChairman since the committee wasestablished. With the support ofcommittee members, Mr. Strang hasworked with scientists andstakeholders to provide expert adviceon Alberta’s vulnerable wildlife.

Albertans expect us to take thebalanced approach in our efforts toensure natural resources are used andmanaged sustainably. They expect usto use this same approach when itcomes to the well being of oursensitive wild species. I look forwardto continuing to work with thecommittee to achieve this balance.

DAVID C. COUTTS

“Alberta remains

committed to

conserving our

wild species and

pays particular

attention to those

that may be at

risk.”

Stewardship efforts help prevent speciesfrom becoming at risk and contributesignificantly to provincial recovery work.


2

IVAN STRANGMLA WEST YELLOWHEAD

I feel privileged to represent the diversemembership of the Endangered SpeciesConservation Committee (ESCC) inintroducing this third progress report onspecies at risk activities. This is one wayin which we can be accountable toAlbertans for our efforts on their behalf.

It’s very satisfying to help buildsomething and watch it stand the test oftime. As a result of start-up funding fora number of species at risk initiatives,the government of Alberta established,over a couple of years, a strongframework for its species at riskprogramming. This framework hasenabled the committee to make a goodnumber of recommendations and makeheadway toward recovery of species.The proof is in the success storiesdescribed herein.

The Alberta approach adapts, for use ata regional level, the assessment criteriathat are used at national andinternational (World ConservationUnion) levels. Based on these criteria,the Scientific Subcommittee supportsthe ESCC with independent, scientificassessments of a high calibre. Then theESCC, as a stakeholder committeeunique in all of Canada, takes theseassessments and adds value, not specialinterest. We then submit ourrecommendations to the Minister ofSustainable Resource Development.

Message from the Chair

In communicating with the Minister,the committee has been impressedwith his willingness to listen to ourpoints and to consider fully oursubmissions. I am pleased to note thatwell over 90 per cent of therecommendations submitted by theESCC have been accepted, which is amost impressive record. We are readyto work with the Minister and thedepartment toward fulfilling ourmandate as we address further species.

My thanks go to the hard-workingcommittee members and ScientificSubcommittee members. Yourcommitment to this task of betteringthe condition of Alberta’s “at risk”species is unwavering. Albertans andthe species themselves are well servedby your efforts.

IVAN STRANG

“The ScientificSubcommitteesupports theESCC withindependent,scientificassessments of ahigh calibre.Then the ESCCtakes theseassessments andadds value.”


3

Alberta and Its Species at Risk

BO

NN

IE SMITH

SMALL-FLOWERED SAND-VERBENA • THREATENED STATUSRECOMMENDED BY THE ESCC

Alberta has a rich natural heritage. Theprovince has hundreds of species ofvertebrate animals, and thousands ofspecies of plants and invertebrates,whose populations are healthy andstable. However, the populations ofsome wild species have declined tosuch an extent that they can no longersustain themselves. Other species are indanger of reaching this point.

In response, the Alberta governmenthas developed a process to prevent“species at risk” from becoming extinctor extirpated. The approach isinnovative and practical, and bringsbroad social and economic values intothe process. It is also cooperative andcollaborative, with the solid backing ofprovincial legislation (the Wildlife Act).The process relies on sound scienceplus a realistic understanding of landuse and land management, both ofwhich are needed for the effectivemanagement and recovery of species atrisk.

The Alberta approach relies upon theactivities of the Endangered SpeciesConservation Committee (ESCC) and itsscientific arm, the ScientificSubcommittee, both created under theauspices of the Wildlife Act in 1998.

The main role of the ESCC is to advisethe Minister of Sustainable ResourceDevelopment on matters related to theidentification, conservation andrecovery of species at risk in Alberta.The Policy Statement of the ESCC isprovided in the Appendix 1. Thespecific functions of the ESCC are asfollows:

Definitions Used by theEndangered SpeciesConservation CommitteeSpecies at Risk: A species atrisk of extinction or extirpation(endangered or threatened),or a species that needs specialmanagement attention toprevent it from becoming atrisk.Extinct: A species that nolonger exists.

Extirpated: A species nolonger existing in the wild inAlberta but occurringelsewhere in the wild.

Endangered: A species facingimminent extirpation orextinction.

Threatened: A species likelyto become endangered iflimiting factors are notreversed.

Species of Special Concern:A species of special concernbecause of characteristics thatmake it particularly sensitive tohuman activities or naturalevents.

Data Deficient: A species forwhich there is insufficientscientific information tosupport status designation.

These definitions are based onthose used by The Committee onthe Status of Endangered Wildlifein Canada (COSEWIC - see page16). For more information see theCOSEWIC website <http://www.cosewic.gc.ca>.

• to recommend the necessary legaldesignation and protections forthreatened and endangeredspecies in Alberta;

• to facilitate the planning andimplementation of conservationprograms and recovery plans forspecies at risk; and

• to recommend actions that willprevent species from becoming atrisk in the future.

The Scientific Subcommittee is anindependent subcommittee of theESCC. Its purpose is to study thescientific information available onspecies identified as potentially at riskin Alberta. The ScientificSubcommittee provides the ESCCwith its analysis of the biologicalstatus of a wild species andrecommends an appropriate statusdesignation. The ScientificSubcommittee may also suggestimmediate actions that need to betaken to protect the species. TheESCC considers and includes thesubcommittee’s assessment when itsubmits its advice to the Minister ofSustainable Resource Development.

The creation of the ESCC has addeda new dimension to the ongoingprocess of species assessment carriedout in Alberta. The result has beenclear identification of species at riskand the timely development ofrecovery plans and managementprograms for these species.


4 < http://www3.gov.ab.ca/srd/fw/speciesatrisk/ >

EdmontonInformation Centre - PublicationsAlberta Sustainable Resource DevelopmentMain Floor, Great West Life Building9920 - 108 St.Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5K 2M4

Where Alberta Species at Risk, Detailed and General Status Reports Are Available

The Endangered Species ConservationCommittee (ESCC) is part of an overallprocess of wild species conservation inAlberta that incorporates bothprovincial and national goals andstrategies.

In Alberta, those species potentially atrisk of extinction or extirpation are firstidentified through a process managedby the Fish and Wildlife Division(Alberta Sustainable ResourceDevelopment), which ranks the generalstatus of each Alberta species. Thepurpose of this “coarse filter” process isto assign initial priorities for speciesassessment, data collection and speciesmanagement. The Fish and WildlifeDivision publishes reports on thegeneral status of Alberta wildlife everyfive years. The next edition is to becompleted in 2005 (see the box belowfor how to get your copy of the 2000report).

If a species has been identified as beingat risk, the Fish and Wildlife Divisionand Alberta Conservation Associationjointly prepare a detailed Alberta statusreport. Using this report, and anyrelevant additional information, theScientific Subcommittee of the ESCCthen assesses what the risk of extinctionor extirpation is for that species inAlberta. In this process, the nationalCommittee on the Status of EndangeredWildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) rating(see page 10) for the species isconsidered, but Alberta’s assessmentmay differ because it is related only tothe status of the species within theprovince.

The information gathered by the Fishand Wildlife Division, is used by theScientific Subcommittee to preparean evaluation, which is presented tothe ESCC. The committee thendecides what recommendations tomake to the Minister of SustainableResource Development concerningthe legal designation, management,and recovery of the species.

If a species is legally designatedunder the Wildlife Act, the Ministerof Sustainable ResourceDevelopment will prepare a recoveryplan for the species. The role of theESCC in this process is as follows:

• to identify appropriatestakeholders to assist scientists inpreparing the recovery plan;

• to review and provide advice on adraft plan; and

• to facilitate appropriate publicreview of, and input into, arecovery plan.

A document called an InitialConservation Action Statementbriefly summarizes therecommendations of the ESCCconcerning actions that should betaken by Alberta to conserve aspecies, including immediate actionsneeded while a recovery plan isbeing put in place. By signing thefederal/provincial/territorial Accordfor the Protection of Species at Riskin 1996 (see page 10) [where theAccord is mentioned in the “What

Alberta’s Strategy to Protect Species at Risk

Phone: (780) 944-0313;within Alberta use the Rite Line 310-0000Fax: (780) 427-4407E-mail: [email protected]

OR

Initial ConservationAction Statements:What They Contain

1. Species description.

2. Alberta status (andrationale for statusrating) as assessed bythe ScientificSubcommittee of theESCC.

3. Initial conservationresponsesrecommended by theESCC, including

• legal designationrecommended by theESCC and a briefstatement of therationale; and

• action and resourcesneeded forconservation efforts.

NORTHERN LEOPARD FROGBREEDING POND

DA

VID

PR

ESC

OTT


5

Alberta EndangeredSpecies Conservation

Committee

GeneralStatus

Assessment

SSC: Biological Assessment

ESCC:Evaluation and

RecommendationsDecision and Action by Minister

of Sustainable Resource

Development

Prevention:Species/Ecosystem

Management

DataCollection

RecoveryImplementation

DetailedStatusReport

Wildlife ActList of

Endangered and Threatened

Species

At Risk or May BeAt Risk

DataDeficient

REASSESSMENTON A REGULAR

BASIS

ESCC = Alberta‘s Endangered Species Conservation CommitteeSSC = Scientific Subcommittee

Species that go through the detailed status process and are found to be

“Not At Risk” are identified for general management and regular general status assessment.

Process Outcome or Publication

Decision Point

Status ofAlberta Wildlife

Report

RecoveryTeam

RecoveryPlan

Recovery Planning by

RecoveryTeam

Species ofSpecial ConcernEndangered

or Threatened

NEWSPECIES

ENTER THE PROCESS HERE}

Happens at the National Level?” section],Alberta committed to the promptdevelopment of recovery plans—within oneyear [from the time the species is officiallydesignated] for endangered species andwithin two years for threatened species. AnInitial Conservation Action Statement isimplemented immediately upon approval bythe Minister of Sustainable ResourceDevelopment.

In keeping with commitments made underthe Accord, Alberta must also preventspecies from becoming at risk. Thispreventative action is less costly than

recovering endangered or threatenedspecies. The ESCC also recommendsmanagement strategies to the Ministerof Sustainable Resource Developmentthat will prevent a species frombecoming at risk. Thus far, assessedspecies that are not at immediate risk ofextinction or extirpation, but still requirespecial management and/or additionaldata collection have been identified as“species of special concern” or “datadeficient.”

Protection forEndangered andThreatened Species1

Under Alberta’s WildlifeAct1. Protects nests and dens of

both threatened andendangered speciesthroughout the year.

2. Provides penalties forkilling or trafficking inendangered andthreatened species (up to$100 000 fine and/or twoyears in jail).

3. Designated non-gamespecies also receive somespecific protections.

1 currently, automatic protections applyonly to non-fish vertebrates. To listplants, invertebrates and fish, similarprotection must be specified bydevelopment of new regulations,which is underway.


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WHOOPING CRANEENDANGERED STATUS INALBERTA

Alberta’s Endangered SpeciesConservation Committee

Alberta’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee (ESCC) held its first meeting inSeptember 1998. Meeting quarterly, it makes decisions usually by consensus but canresolve matters using a two-thirds majority when consensus is not possible. A Minister ofthe then-Alberta Environmental Protection appointed Ivan Strang, MLA for WestYellowhead, as the committee’s Chair in 1998.

The Alberta approach to assisting species at risk involves using both scientific expertiseand the knowledge of those who own, manage or use the land on which wild speciesdepend. Therefore, the ESCC includes members of the scientific/academic community(apart from the Scientific Subcommittee), plus representatives of organizations that areland use managers, resource users, conservation groups and government departments. Byincluding all these stakeholders, the committee is better able to develop workableconservation management programs and recovery plans for species at risk.

The ESCC consists of the following individuals and organizations (member organizationsare listed in alphabetical order):

ChairIvan Strang, MLA for West Yellowhead

MembersAlberta Association of Municipal Districts and

CountiesAlberta Beef ProducersAlberta Fish and Game AssociationAlberta Forest Products Association

(2 MEMBERS)

Alberta Irrigation Projects AssociationAlberta Native Plant CouncilAlberta Sustainable Resource DevelopmentCalgary ZooCanadian Association of Petroleum ProducersFederation of Alberta NaturalistsSpecial Areas Board

For more information

about these

organizations, visit their

websites, which are

listed on the inside back

cover.

The Wildlife Society - Alberta ChapterTreaty 8 First Nations of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta (Dept. of Biological

Sciences)University of Calgary (Dept. of Biological

Sciences)Western Stock Growers’ Association

Ex-officio Representatives/AdvisorsAlberta Agriculture, Food and Rural

DevelopmentAlberta Community DevelopmentAlberta Conservation AssociationAlberta EnergyAlberta Environment

Ex-officio Representatives do not vote. All othermembers have one vote.


7

In the next two yearsAlberta’s Endangered SpeciesConservation Committeeintends to accomplish thefollowing:

• continue ongoingassessments of speciespotentially at risk inAlberta and make itsrecommendations aboutthese species to theMinister of SustainableResource Development;

• continue to facilitate theplanning, review andimplementation ofrecovery plans forendangered andthreatened species; and

• continue to review andfacilitate public input intodraft recovery plans.

Future Activitiesof Alberta’s EndangeredSpecies ConservationCommittee

• received 14 new assessments carriedout by the Scientific Subcommittee (asof June 2004, 44 species have beenevaluated since 1999);

• passed recommendations concerningthe legal designation, managementand recovery of all of these species tothe Minister of Sustainable Resource

Achievements of Alberta’s EndangeredSpecies Conservation Committee

Alberta’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee has been meeting sinceSeptember 1998 and has accomplished a great deal in its tenure so far. Between July2002 and June 2004, it has achieved the following:

SPECIES ASSESSED BY ALBERTA’S ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATIONCOMMITTEE BETWEEN JULY 2002 AND JUNE 2004

1 New regulations for the protection of plant, fish and invertebrate species are being developed so that the listing process can becompleted for these species.

2 Evaluation on hold pending collection of additional population data.

ENDANGERED SPECIES

1 | Bison (Bison bison)

THREATENED SPECIES1 | Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens)

SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN1 | White-winged scoter (Melanitta fusca

deglandi)

2 | Prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus)

DATA DEFICIENT SPECIES1 | American badger (Taxidea taxus)

Development (the Minister hasresponded and initiated action on all44 species); and

• reviewed and facilitated public inputinto one draft recovery plan.

IN PROCESS1

1 | Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)

2 | Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) 2

3 | Western silvery minnow (Hybognathusargyritis)

4 | Shortjaw cisco (Coregonus zenithicus)

5 | Small-flowered sand-verbena(Tripterocalyx micranthus)

6 | Mountain plover (Charadrius montanus)

7 | Banff Springs snail (Physella johnsoni)

8 | St. Mary sculpin (provisionally Cottus bairdipunctulatus)

9 | Stonecat (Noturus flavus)


8

The Scientific Subcommittee of Alberta’sEndangered Species Conservation Committee

The Scientific Subcommittee is made up ofindependent scientists who review the bestscientific information available on a speciesthat may be at risk in Alberta and assesswhat the biological status of that species isin the province. The subcommittee sendsits assessment and relatedrecommendations to the EndangeredSpecies Conservation Committee.

The Scientific Subcommittee has adoptedthe species evaluation method used by theIUCN1 (now the World Conservation Union,formerly the International Union for theConservation of Nature and NaturalResources). This method is the same asthat used by the Committee on the Statusof Endangered Wildlife in Canada(COSEWIC) at the national level, and usingit ensures that Alberta’s assessments canbe compared with those done nationally.As well, having an internationallyaccepted, open and transparent process ofevaluation enhances the credibility of thescientific assessments.

Dr. René J. Belland, Director of Research,Devonian Botanic Garden, Edmonton,Alberta.

Dr. David Gummer, Curator ofMammalogy, Provincial Museum ofAlberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

Dr. Brett Purdy, Department ofRenewable Resources, University ofAlberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

Dr. Fiona Schmiegelow (SubcommitteeChair), Assistant Professor, Departmentof Renewable Resources, University ofAlberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

Dr. John Spence, Professor, DepartmentChair, Department of RenewableResources, University of Alberta,Edmonton, Alberta.

1The World Conservation Union has kept its former acronym—IUCN.

Mark Steinhilber, Head Curator ofLife Sciences, Provincial Museum ofAlberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

William D. Wishart, Retired SectionHead, Wildlife Research, Alberta Fishand Wildlife; now Adjunct Professor,Department of Biological Sciences,University of Alberta, and ResearchAssociate, Provincial Museum ofAlberta, Edmonton, Alberta.

Members of the Scientific Subcommittee (in alphabetical order) are as follows:

The ScientificSubcommittee ismade up ofindependentscientists whoreview the bestscientificinformationavailable on aspecies that maybe at risk inAlberta.

When evaluating a species, theScientific Subcommittee considers arange of information about thespecies’ status in Alberta. Populationsize, changes in population size, andthe size of the area in which thespecies occurs are very significant.Other population characteristics, suchas fragmentation, isolation and statusin adjacent regions are also consideredbefore the subcommittee recommendsa status.

The present Scientific Subcommittee iscomposed of a small group ofscientists with significant expertiserelated to vertebrate animals(including mammals, amphibians,reptiles, birds and fish), invertebrates(including insects and spiders) andvascular and nonvascular plants, aswell as in the general fields of biology,botany, ecology, forestry, populationgenetics, wildlife management andwildlife conservation.

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GRIZZLY BEARTHREATENED STATUSRECOMMENDED BY THE ESCC


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Over the next two years, theScientific Subcommittee willbe completing the followingactivities:• continue to evaluate

species potentially at risk inAlberta and pass on itsrecommendations to theEndangered SpeciesConservation Committee;and

• continue to set prioritiesfor reassessment of speciesas they approach 5-yearssince their initialassessment.

Achievements of the Scientific Subcommitteeof Alberta’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee

• evaluated 14 new species (as of June2004, 44 species have been evaluatedsince 1999) and provided itsrecommendations for these species tothe Endangered Species ConservationCommittee;

• discussed and accepted newguidelines for using IUCN 2001Categories and Criteria; and

• recommended priorities forreassessment of the first set ofspecies to approach 5-years sinceinitial assessment.

The Scientific Subcommittee has been meeting since January 1999 and between July2002 and June 2004, can be credited with the following accomplishments:

Future Activitiesof the ScientificSubcommittee ofAlberta’s EndangeredSpecies ConservationCommittee

LISA

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IAS

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What Happens at the National Level

There are two key cooperativeprocesses that have driven endangeredspecies conservation efforts nationallyover the last few decades. One is theCommittee on the Status ofEndangered Wildlife in Canada(COSEWIC), created in 1977. Thiscommittee, which includesgovernment, academic andnonacademic experts, identifies wildspecies at risk in Canada.

In addition, the committee on theRecovery of Nationally EndangeredWildlife (RENEW) was created in 1988.This committee oversees thedevelopment and implementation ofrecovery plans for species identified as“threatened” or “endangered”nationally. Alberta participates onmost national recovery teams forCOSEWIC-designated species at riskthat occur in the province.

The federal/provincial/territorialAccord for the Protection of Species atRisk, which Alberta signed in 1996,committed federal, provincial andterritorial governments to increasedcooperation and action on theconservation of species at risk. Theformation of the Endangered SpeciesConservation Committee was one ofthe means by which Alberta began tomeet its commitments under theAccord.

There have been a number of recentadvances at the national level in thearea of Species at Risk. After severalyears under development, the Speciesat Risk Act (SARA) was proclaimedinto law on June 5, 2003, with severalprovisions coming into effect June 1,2004.

Key components of this new federallegislation include the following:

• national assessment by COSEWIC

RIC

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RD

CA

NER

S

and federal listing under SARA (seebelow);

• basic protections against killing,possession, trafficking, destructionof residences;

• critical habitat designation andprotection;

• recovery planning and consultation(see below); and

• permitting of activities affecting alisted wildlife species, or its criticalhabitat or residence.

With proclamation of SARA, COSEWICwas created in law, as an independentbody of experts responsible forassessing and identifying species atrisk. Assessments made by COSEWICwill be reported to the Federal Ministerof the Environment and to theCanadian Endangered SpeciesConservation Council.

The Federal Minister is required toprepare a recovery strategy and actionplan(s) for each nationally endangered,threatened or extirpated species.Management plans must be developedfor Species of Special Concern. TheRENEW will continue to guide therecovery process.

The ESCC remains very interested inseeing how provincial/federalintegration and cooperation will occur.The new legislation will create somechallenges that will have to be metwith creative solutions. No matter whatchallenges arise, Alberta remainscommitted to the Accord for theProtection of Species at Risk, andcontinues to support the cooperativeapproach of the Accord. Thiscooperative approach is the foundationfor how the ESCC works, and hasproved its worth for species at risk.

Some HelpfulWebsites

PROVINCIAL

Alberta’s Species at RiskProgram (INCLUDING REPORTS)

http://www3.gov.ab.ca/srd/fw/speciesatrisk/Alberta Natural HeritageInformation Centrewww.cd.gov.ab.ca/preserving/parks/anhic/flashindex.asp

NATIONAL

Federal Species at RiskAct Public Registry (SARA)www.sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfmCommittee on the Statusof Endangered Wildlifein Canada (COSEWIC)www.cosewic.gc.ca

Accord for the Protectionof Species at Riskhttp://www.ec.gc.ca/press/wild_b_e.htm

Species at Risk in Canadawww.speciesatrisk.gc.ca

INTERNATIONAL

World ConservationUnion (IUCN)1

http://iucn.org/themes/ssc/index.htm

1 The World Conservation Union haskept its former acronym— IUCN.


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ENDANGERED (2004)Sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) GA EN Jun-99 EN Jul-99 EN (Ntl)2 Nov-97 (Ntl) Aug-01 (Ntl) Sep-01

(Prov) Jan-033 IPSwift fox (Vulpes velox) EN EN Oct-99 EN Oct-99 EN IPPiping plover (Charadrius melodus) TH EN Dec-99 EN Jan-00 EN Jul-01 Feb-02 Apr-02Ord’s kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii) NG EN Mar-00 EN Apr-00 EN Apr-03 IPWhooping crane (Grus americanus) EN EN Sep-01 EN Oct-01 EN NABison (Bison bison)1 EN EN Jan-04 EN Feb-04 EN

THREATENED (2004)Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) EN TH Jun-99 TH Jul-99 TH May-01 Jun-04 IPBurrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) TH TH Oct-99 TH Oct-99 TH Jun-01 IPWoodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) TH TH Dec-00 TH Jan-01 TH Oct-02 Jun-04Barren ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus TH - - TH NAgroenlandicus)Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) TH TH Apr-01 TH Jun-01 TH Apr-03 IPFerruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) TH Sep-01 Oct-01 THNorthern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) TH TH Sep-03 TH Nov-03 TH IP

OTHER FORMS OF PROTECTION PROPOSED (2000-2004)Sprague’s pipit (Anthus spragueii) NG SC Jun-99 SC Jul-99 NG(SC) - NA IPLong-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) NG SC Dec-99 SC Jan-00 NG(SC) NA IPLong-billed curlew (Numenius americanus) NG SC Mar-00 SC Apr-00 NG(SC) NA IPLoggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) NG SC Mar-00 SC Apr-00 NG(SC) NABlack-throated green warbler NG SC Jun-00 SC Oct-00 NG(SC) NA IP(Dendroica virens)Harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) GA SC Sep-01 SC Oct-01 GA(SC) NABull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) GF SC Jan-02 SC Feb-02 GF(SC) NAWhite-winged scoter (Melanitta fusca deglandi) GA SC Sep-02 SC Oct-02 GA(SC) NAPrairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) BP SC Jan-03 SC May-03 BP(SC) NAPrairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) NG DD Dec-99 DD Jan-00 NG(DD) NA IPWolverine (Gulo gulo) FB DD Dec-00 DD Jan-01 FB(DD) NAPygmy whitefish (Prosopium coulteri) - DD Sep-00 DD Oct-00 DD NAGreat plains toad (Bufo cognatus) NG DD Dec-00 DD Jan-01 NG(DD) NACanadian toad (Bufo hemiophrys) NG DD Dec-00 DD Jan-01 NG(DD) NAAmerican badger (Taxidea taxus) FB DD Sep-02 DD Oct-02 FB(DD) NARed-tailed chipmunk (Tamias ruficaudus) NG NR Jun-00 NR Oct-00 NG NA

IN PROCESS (JUNE 2004) (E.G., AWAITING REGULATION DEVELOPMENT)Western spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis) - EN Apr-01 EN Jun-01 IP Oct-03 IPSoapweed (Yucca glauca) - EN Apr-02 EN May-02 IP Oct-03 IPYucca moth (Tegeticula yuccasella) - EN Apr-02 EN May-02 IP Oct-03 IPWestern blue flag (Iris missouriensis) - TH Sep-99 TH Oct-99 IP Nov-01 Feb-02 Apr-02Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) GA TH Jan-02 TH Feb-02 IP Oct-02 IPCape May warbler (Dendroica tigrina) NG SC Apr-02 SC May-02 IPBay-breasted warbler (Dendroica castanea) NG SC Apr-02 SC May-02 IPLake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) GF TH Jan-03 TH May-03 IPWillow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) NG Sep-02 Oct-02 -Western silvery minnow (Hybognathus argyritis) BF TH Jan-03 TH May-03 IP Mar-04Shortjaw cisco (Coregonus zenithicus) - TH Jan-03 TH May-03 IPSmall-flowered sand-verbena (Tripterocalyx micranthus) - TH Sep-03 TH Nov-03 IPMountain plover (Charadrius montanus) NG EN Jan-04 EN Feb-04 IPBanff Springs snail (Physella johnsoni) - EN Jan-04 EN Feb-04 IP NASt. Mary sculpin (provisionally Cottus bairdi punctulatus) - TH Jan-04 TH Feb-04 IP Mar-04Stonecat (Noturus flavus) - TH Apr-04 TH Jun-04 IP Mar-04

Species

FormerDesignation

(1998)

Recommendations

SSC ESCC

CurrentDesignation(June 2002)

RecoveryTeam

Formed

Recovery/ManagementPlan Drafted

Rec. PlanApproved by

Minister

1 Currently, only bison (Bison bison) that are found, killed or captured on the land within the boundaries described in Alberta’s WildlifeRegulation are endangered animals.

2 Pending development of the provincial recovery plan, Alberta has adopted the national recovery strategy for sage grouse.

EN – Endangered; TH – Threatened; BF – Bait Fish (under Federal Fisheries Act); GA – Game Animal; NG – Non-game Animal; GF – Game Fish (under Federal Fisheries Act); FB - Fur-bearingAnimal; IP – In Process (former designations hold while in process); – Legal designation is Non-game Animal, Fur-bearing Animal, Game Bird or Game Fish, species further described asSC – Species of Special Concern or DD – Data Deficient; – Evaluation/Re-evaluation on hold pending analysis of additional data on population trends; NR – Not at Risk; NA – notapplicable.

Species Currently Listed Under the Wildlife Act,and New Species Assessed by the Endangered SpeciesConservation Committee since it’s Inception in September 1998


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PEREGRINE FALCONTHREATENED STATUS IN ALBERTA

Recovery Planning

One of the most important componentsof Alberta’s Species at Risk Program isthe development and implementation ofrecovery plans for species that aredesignated as “threatened” or“endangered.” Alberta recovery plansare prepared by recovery teamscomposed of a variety of stakeholders,often including representatives ofgovernment agencies, conservationorganizations, industry, landowners,resource users, and universities.

Once a draft recovery plan is completed,it is forwarded to the EndangeredSpecies Conservation Committee (ESCC)for review. The ESCC then forwardsrecommendations and advice onimplementation and recovery actions tothe Minister of Sustainable ResourceDevelopment. After ministerial approval,a public information session is held.Plans accepted and approved for

implementation by the Minister arepublished as part of the recovery planreport series. Approval of a recoveryplan is a departmental endorsement ofthe path of action necessary to restoreand maintain the species in question.

As of June 2004, recovery plans havebeen completed for three species:peregrine falcon, western blue flag, andpiping plover. Recovery planning andteam formation has been initiated for 13more species: greater sage-grouse, swiftfox, burrowing owl, Ord’s kangaroo rat,woodland caribou, trumpeter swan,western spiderwort, grizzly bear,soapweed/yucca moth (one team) andwestern silvery minnow/St. Mary sculpin/stonecat (one team). In addition,preliminary work has been undertakenfor the formation of a recovery team fornorthern leopard frog.

For more information,go to:http://www3.gov.ab.ca/srd/fw/escc

and

http://www3.gov.ab.ca/srd/fw/speciesatrisk/

The Alberta Peregrine Falcon RecoveryTeam was formed in May 2001. The draftrecovery plan was finalized in thesummer of 2004 and submitted to theDirector of Wildlife Management and theESCC for review. Following thecompletion of each year’s recovery planactivities, accomplishments will beassessed and future recovery directionand initiatives will be re-evaluated asdeemed necessary by the recovery team.

The plan is an action oriented document;however, it recognizes the realities ofsoliciting or committing Species At Riskfunds toward a species regarded as “inrecovery”, particularly one that has beenthe focus of management activities formore than three decades. The recoveryplan emphasizes that large-scale

management actions, such as re-introductions, are no longer needed,but that baseline monitoring should bein place to ensure that the small andvulnerable population continues togrow in the province.

Pesticide residues continue to bemonitored in the species throughopportunistic collections of eggs eachyear in Alberta. Also, a memorandum ofagreement has been drawn up betweenAlberta Sustainable ResourceDevelopment, Parks Canada and theCanadian Wildlife Service to expeditemonitoring initiatives in northeasternAlberta. These agencies, and theAlberta Conservation Association, arecommitted to a province-wide peregrinefalcon survey in 2005.

ALBERTA PEREGRINE FALCON RECOVERY PLANNING ANDIMPLEMENTATIONRecovery Team Lead: Gordon Court


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WESTERN BLUE FLAGTHREATENED STATUSRECOMMENDED BY THE ESCC

The Alberta Western Blue Flag RecoveryTeam was officially formed in October2001. The Maintenance and RecoveryPlan for Western Blue Flag (Irismissouriensis) in Canada was provided tothe ESCC in February 2002. The ESCCrecommended to the Minister on March26, 2002 that the plan be approved andon April 18, 2002 the Minister approvedthe plan as submitted by the maintenanceand recovery team. The plan is designedto reflect co-operation and voluntaryparticipation, stakeholder involvement inmanagement decisions, protection of aThreatened species in a sustainableranching landscape, and landscapemanagement to benefit multiple speciesof native grasslands. Annual reviewmeetings of the recovery team were heldin 2003 and 2004 to review progressmade on implementation of the ActionPlan in the maintenance and recoveryplan, and from these meetings twoannual reports were completed.

Implementation of the recovery plan from2002-2004 included:

• continued inventory and monitoring ofwestern blue flag populations;

• completion of eight rangemanagement plans;

• various improvements on severalproperties;

• initiation of a program toevaluate the success of rangemanagement plans andimprovements in achieving thedesired objectives of conservationof the species and native prairiein general;

• completion of a three-yearsummary report on the westernblue flag program; and

• various activities in the publicoutreach and researchcomponents of the program.

During 2004-2005, Alberta Fish andWildlife Division will continue toencourage Environment Canada toendorse the Maintenance andRecovery Plan for western blue flag(Iris missouriensis) in Canada as thenational recovery plan for thespecies.

WESTERN BLUE FLAG RECOVERY PLANNING ANDIMPLEMENTATIONRecovery Team Lead: Richard Quinlan


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The Alberta Piping Plover Recovery Teamwas established in July 2001. In February2002, the Team submitted the AlbertaPiping Plover Recovery Plan 2002-2004 tothe Minister of Sustainable ResourceDevelopment and the ESCC for review. Theplan was approved by the Minister in April2002.

All tasks scheduled in each of the sixstrategic areas for completion in the firstand second years of implementation (2002-2003 and 2003-2004 respectively) wereaccomplished successfully. Some of thetasks completed in the first year ofimplementation include: concisemanagement plans for 25 key piping ploverlakes in the province, implementation of anew exclosure design for nest protection toincrease hatching success, the productionand distribution of a landownerinformation package, and the identificationof suitable habitat on several previouslyunsurveyed water bodies. Some tasks

completed in the second year ofimplementation include: managementplans for five additional lakes in theprovince, publication of a comprehensivereview of techniques for managingpredator populations, development ofinterpretive signs, surveys of breedingplovers on 33 lakes, and analyses of 10years of nesting and management data.Work in 2003-2004 laid the foundationfor several new habitat managementprojects to be initiated in 2004-2005.Key activities for 2004-2005 include:broadening participation in recoveryefforts, expanding the funding base toinclude new partners, implementingactivities outlined in the 30 completedlake management plans, use of thepredator exclosure program on as manylakes as resources allow, and preparationof a new five-year recovery plan that willbe compliant with the federal Species atRisk Act.

ALBERTA PIPING PLOVER RECOVERY PLANNING ANDIMPLEMENTATIONRecovery Team Lead: Dave Prescott

The national Sage-Grouse Recovery Teamwas formed in November 1997 to initiaterecovery planning for the prairie populationof sage grouse. Alberta endorsed theresulting Canadian Sage Grouse RecoveryStrategy in September 2001. Localstakeholders were engaged in Alberta’srecovery planning process through theformation of the Alberta Sage GrouseRecovery Action Group, which firstconvened in January 2003 to develop arecovery action plan for the province. ATechnical Advisory Group was also formed,which consists of specialists that willprovide technical advice and scientificknowledge, develop models and

recommend adaptive managementexperiments to the Recovery ActionGroup.

The principles of collaborate resourcemanagement and adaptive resourcemanagement were applied in theplanning process for greater sagegrouse in southeastern Alberta. Agraduate student from the University ofCalgary is conducting an evaluation ofthe recovery planning process. TheRecovery Action Group expects to havea recovery plan finalized and submittedto the Director of the WildlifeManagement Branch and the ESCC forreview during 2004.

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE RECOVERY PLANNINGRecovery Team Lead: Dale Eslinger

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GREATER SAGE-GROUSEENDANGERED STATUS INALBERTA


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The Alberta Ord’s Kangaroo Rat RecoveryTeam held their first meeting in April2003, and expects that the draft recoveryplan will be finalized in 2004, at whichtime it will be submitted to the Directorof the Wildlife Management Branch andthe ESCC for review. The InitialConservation Action Statementrecommended by the ESCC to theMinister of Sustainable ResourceDevelopment suggested thatmanagement of Ord’s kangaroo ratsduring the next five years should focus onconservation of existing populations by

preventing habitat decline and bymaintaining or restoring open sandhabitat within the current range ofthe species. The team is developinga recovery plan that will meetnumerous short- and long-termobjectives, and detail the strategiesand actions necessary to meet theultimate goal of maintaining anaturally, self-sustaining populationsuch that this species is no longerrequired to be listed as Endangeredor Threatened within the province.

ORD’S KANGAROO RAT RECOVERY PLANNINGRecovery Team Lead: Arlen Todd

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BURROWING OWLTHREATENED STATUS IN ALBERTA

The Alberta Swift Fox Recovery Team wasformed in 2004. The standard 12-monthgoal to complete a recovery plan for anEndangered species in Alberta wasextended for swift fox to allowcompletion of the co-operative nationalcensus in the winter of 2000-2001.Pending the development andimplementation of a recovery plan, policyand management necessary to ensure thelegislated protection of all swift fox dens

was implemented. The team isdeveloping a recovery plan to definegoals, objectives, strategies andmanagement actions needed to guidethe continued recovery of this speciesover the next five years. The RecoveryAction Plan will follow requirementsstipulated in the Federal Species at RiskAct and satisfy provincial obligationsunder Alberta’s Species at Risk Strategyto restore this species.

SWIFT FOX RECOVERY PLANNINGRecovery Team Lead: Joel Nicholson

The Alberta Burrowing Owl RecoveryTeam was formally established in June2001 and has been developing a recoveryplan to detail the strategies, actions, andassociated timelines necessary to meetthe ultimate goal of restoring the Albertaburrowing owl population to viable,naturally self-sustaining levels. The teamrecognizes that landholders and resource

users have vital roles to play insuccessful recovery efforts forburrowing owls, and has developed arecovery planning process that isinclusive and effective. The RecoveryTeam expects to have a recovery planfinalized and submitted to the Directorof the Wildlife Management Branchand the ESCC for review during 2004.

ALBERTA BURROWING OWL RECOVERY PLANNINGRecovery Team Lead: Arlen Todd


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The Alberta Western Spiderwort RecoveryTeam held their first meeting in October2003, and anticipates that the draftrecovery plan will be complete in 2004, atwhich time it will be submitted to theDirector of the Wildlife ManagementBranch and the ESCC for review. Theteam is developing a recovery plan todefine management actions for theprotection and conservation of western

spiderwort while respecting thelivelihoods and values of the ranchingcommunity and other compatible landuse activities. The Initial ConservationAction Statement recommended by theESCC to the Minister of SustainableResource Development suggested thatinitial recovery efforts for this speciesshould focus on the identification andconservation of existing population(s).

WESTERN SPIDERWORT RECOVERY PLANNINGRecovery Team Lead: Joel Nicholson

The Alberta Woodland Caribou RecoveryTeam was officially formed in the fall of2002, and is comprised of stakeholderswith an interest in or affected by themanagement of the species and its habitat.The draft recovery plan was finalized in thesummer of 2004 and submitted to theDirector of Wildlife Management and theESCC for review. The recovery plan detailsthe actions and commitments necessary torestore woodland caribou populations inAlberta and allow the species’ removal fromthe list of provincially Threatened species.Of primary importance in the draft plan is

the underlying assumption thatstakeholders who use and manage theland within caribou range are committedto the goal of caribou recovery. The planemphasizes an ecosystem-basedapproach to developing recoverystrategies and actions, and advocates anadaptive management approach duringimplementation of those actions. Theplan recognizes that effective recoverystrategies that are economically andlogistically feasible, and which supportthe long-term sustainability of caribouherds, must be developed.

ALBERTA WOODLAND CARIBOU RECOVERY PLANNINGRecovery Team Lead: Dave Hervieux

The Alberta Trumpeter Swan Recovery Teamwas initiated in April 2003, and expectsthat the draft recovery plan will be finalizedin 2005, at which time it will be submittedto the Director of the Wildlife ManagementBranch and the ESCC for review. The teamis developing a recovery plan that will detailthe actions and commitments necessary torestore trumpeter swan populations inAlberta. The plan will provide backgroundinformation including trumpeter swandistribution and population trends, natural

history, habitat requirements, populationthreats and limiting factors. The greaterpart of the plan will describe strategiesfor recovery, which focus on theidentified threats to the species and itshabitats. The trumpeter swan’s migratorynature and international life cyclerequirements mean that the policies andactions of numerous governments andindustries will to some extent affect thesuccess of recovery efforts in Alberta.

TRUMPETER SWAN RECOVERY PLANNINGRecovery Team Lead: Mark Heckbert

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WESTERN SPIDERWORTRECOVERY EFFORTS

The Alberta Western Silvery MinnowRecovery Team held its first meeting inMarch 2004. The ESCC recommendedthat the recovery plan address the needsof western silvery minnow at both theprovincial and national levels; thus, therecovery planning for western silveryminnow in Alberta is a joint provincial/federal effort. A broad-based multi-species recovery plan is being developedto incorporate other fish species at risk inthe Milk River Basin including St. Maryshorthead sculpin (approved for provincial

listing as Threatened) and stonecat (inprocess for being approved forprovincial listing as Threatened). Therecovery team is setting goals,objectives, strategies, and managementactions needed to guide the recoveryof these species over the next fiveyears. It is expected that the draftrecovery plan will be completed in2005. Once the draft plan is completedit will be submitted to the Director ofthe Wildlife Management Branch andthe ESCC for review.

WESTERN SILVERY MINNOW RECOVERY PLANNINGRecovery Team Lead: Terry Clayton

The Alberta Grizzly Bear Recovery Teamwas initiated in October 2002, andanticipates that the draft recovery planwill be complete in 2004, at which timeit will be submitted to the Director of theWildlife Management Branch and theESCC for review. The greater part of theplan will address how grizzly bearrecovery can be achieved. The team isworking on detailing strategies and

actions necessary to address severalobjectives, including reducinghuman-caused mortality, reducinghuman/bear conflicts, improvinglandscape conditions (i.e., habitat),and improving data collection ongrizzly population size, health, andmortality rates. Recovery actions willbe monitored and evaluated.

GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY PLANNINGRecovery Team Lead: Lisa Wilkinson

The Alberta Soapweed/Yucca MothRecovery Team held their first meeting inOctober 2003, and anticipates that thedraft recovery plan will be finalized in2004, at which time it will be submitted tothe Director of the Wildlife ManagementBranch and the ESCC for review. The teamis developing a recovery plan to definemanagement actions for the protection andconservation of soapweed and yucca mothwhile respecting the livelihoods and valuesof the ranching community and othercompatible land use activities. The Initial

Conservation Action Statementrecommended by the ESCC to theMinister of Sustainable ResourceDevelopment suggested that initialrecovery efforts for this species shouldfocus on the identification andconservation of existing population(s).Because soapweed and yucca moth areboth considered Endangered in Albertaand because of each species’ relianceon the other, the recovery strategy andaction plan for both species are beingdeveloped concurrently.

SOAPWEED/YUCCA MOTH RECOVERY PLANNINGRecovery Team Lead: Joel Nicholson


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Updates on Species Assessed1999 - 2002

The First Report of the Alberta Endangered Species Conservation Committee 2000and Report of Alberta’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee 2002presented information on the initial 30 species evaluated by the EndangeredSpecies Conservation Committee (ESCC). Since those reports, many of thesespecies have entered the recovery process, and are reported on in the recoverysection of this report (see page 12). The following accounts describe progress madesince 2002 on some of the remaining species: Sprague’s pipit, long-toedsalamander, loggerhead shrike, prairie rattlesnake, wolverine, Great Plains toad,Canadian toad, bull trout, as well as the already-listed northern leopard frog.

The northern leopard frog (Ranapipiens) was once a common andwidespread amphibian throughoutcentral and southern Alberta. Duringthe late 1970s, the leopard frogexperienced a dramatic decline indistribution and numbers over much ofits historical distribution. Because theleopard frog has shown little ability todisperse naturally back into historicalparts of its distribution, the Fish andWildlife Division decided to tryreintroducing leopard frogs back into

areas where they had been extirpated.In 2002-2003, captive-reared leopardfrogs were released into designatedsites near Caroline, Rocky MountainHouse, and Red Deer, Alberta. Frogobservations and evidence of breedingactivity suggest preliminary success inthe re-introduction programs. Theformation of an Alberta NorthernLeopard Frog Recovery Team anddevelopment of a provincial recoveryplan are underway.

NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG [ THREATENED ]Recovery Team Lead: Dave Prescott

Sprague’s pipit (Anthus spragueii) wasidentified as a “species of specialconcern” for Alberta in July 1999. In2002, a draft management plan wasprepared for the province of Alberta,focusing on the maintenance of longterm monitoring efforts, preserving andimproving breeding habitat, andincreasing public awareness.

The Breeding Bird Survey and theCanadian Wildlife Service monitordistribution and population trends ofSprague’s pipit in Alberta, and elsewherewithin its range. Many of these studieshave documented habitat use,confirming the species’ strong preferencefor native grasslands that are lightlygrazed.

SPRAGUE’S PIPIT [ SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN ]Management Lead: Dave Prescott


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PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKEDATA DEFICIENT STATUSRECOMMENDED BY ESCC

Populations of loggerhead shrike (Laniusludovicianus) have declined in many areasof North America in recent years.COSEWIC has designated the species asEndangered in the eastern portion of itsdistribution, and Threatened in the west.In 2002-2003, new survey methods forloggerhead shrikes were evaluated and aprovince wide population estimate wasconducted. Generally, populations werereduced in the central part of theprovince, but higher in areas near

Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and theAspen Parklands. Approximately13 560 pairs were estimated in Albertain 2003-2004, a higher, and moreprecise estimate than thoughtpreviously. Although the number ofshrikes is higher than expected, it isrecommended that population size beverified, and that the species remainsat the status of Special Concernbecause of a known susceptibility toWest Nile Virus.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE [ SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN ]Management Lead: Dave Prescott

The bull trout has been under zeroharvest regulation since 1995 in anattempt to recover many populationsthat had declined significantly.Populations are responding positively

BULL TROUT [ SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN ]Management Leads: Dave Walty/Dave Christiansen

In March, 2000, The Endangered SpeciesConservation Committee recommendedthe long-toed salamander (Ambystomamacrodactylum) be listed as a Species ofSpecial Concern. Within Alberta, thelong-toed salamander has a limitedbreeding distribution, its subpopulationsare isolated and discontinuous, and thespecies appears to be vulnerable tohabitat disturbance. Threats to

salamanders include fish stocking aswell as disturbance of breeding pondsand adjacent forest habitat. It appearsthat long-toed salamander populationsmay be stable in remote and protectedareas. Where human pressure on thelandscape is increasing, salamanderpopulations are isolated and vulnerableto habitat destruction.

LONG-TOED SALAMANDER [ SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN ]Management Lead: Lisa Wilkinson

under this management. Fisheriesbiologists are currently updating themonitoring protocol for bull trout toallow a future update of the provincialmanagement plan.


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The wolverine has experiencedconsiderable range reduction andpopulation decline across North Americasince the arrival of Europeans. COSEWIChas listed the species as Endangered inthe eastern portion of its distribution,and Species of Special Concernthroughout the west. The wolverine hasa naturally low reproductive rate, lowjuvenile survivorship, and requires alarge and variable home range based onfood availability and habitat structure,

and therefore has a naturally lowpopulation size. Before 2002-2003,there had never been an inventory ofwolverine population size, distribution,demographics or habitat use in theboreal. Although much time andenergy was spent on different surveymethods population densities are stillinconclusive. More intense andwidespread sampling is necessary toget baseline data for this species.

WOLVERINE [ DATA DEF IC IENT ]Management Lead: Matt Besko

Two multi-species amphibianmonitoring project are currently beingundertaken in Alberta. Beginning in1997, RANA (Researching AmphibianNumbers in Alberta) has beenmonitoring populations in severallocations. Only one Canadian toadhas been observed throughout thehistory of this study. A second,

volunteer-based project, theAlberta Amphibian MonitoringProgram (AAMP) has performedprovince-wide surveys since 1992.In 2002-2003, only 6 Canadiantoads were reported. No data werereported on Great Plains toads in2002-2003, or 2003-2004.

GREAT PLAINS TOAD AND CANADIAN TOAD [ DATA DEF IC IENT ]Management Lead: Arlen Todd

GREAT PLAINS TOADDATA DEFICIENT STATUSRECOMMENDED BY ESCC

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In Alberta, the prairie rattlesnake(Crotalus viridis viridis) is identified as“data deficient”. The population may bein decline, but the extent of decline isnot known. A Prairie RattlesnakeConservation Management Plan wasdrafted in 2002-2003 with the goal ofacquiring information on population sizeand trends of prairie rattlesnakes inAlberta. Key objectives include (1)intensive investigation of road mortalitylevels and development of specificmanagement strategies to mitigate road

mortality, (2) communication withlandowners/leaseholders and industryabout the conservation requirementsof this species, (3) more accurateestimation of population size ofrattlesnakes, and (4) education toincrease public support forrattlesnakes. Standardized protocolsfor locating snake hibernacula arebeing developed, and annual counts ofrattlesnakes continue at hibernationsites during spring and fall whenrattlesnakes aggregate at hibernacula.

PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKE [ DATA DEF IC IENT ]Management Lead: Joel Nicholson


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BISON (Bison bison)

The bison is the largestterrestrial mammal in NorthAmerica, with males beingmuch larger than females.They have massive heads,large shoulders with a highhump, and dense, shaggydark brown and black hairaround the head and neck.Both sexes have black horns.Bison are social creatures andlive in small herds throughoutthe year.

Historically, there were twosubspecies of bison found inAlberta – the bison that arefound here today areconsidered wood bison,although there has beensome intermixing with theother subspecies, the plainsbison. Plains bison onceoccurred further south, butremain extirpated from theiroriginal range in Alberta.

HabitatThe bison has varying habitat requirementsbased on the season. In winter, Alberta bisoneat grasses and sedges associated withwetlands, open shrublands, and drygrasslands. In other seasons, their diet canbe more variable, including species such asgrasses, sedges, willow leaves and lichens.

DistributionHistorically, bison were widely scatteredthroughout North America, from WashingtonDC, to the Rocky Mountains, and fromcentral Alaska south to northern Mexico.Their distribution has been severely restrictedcompared to their original distribution. InAlberta, most free-ranging bison areconsidered “wood bison” and are found inWood Buffalo National Park, Hay-Zama, orWentzel Lake populations. “Plains bison” arelocated in one semi-wild herd in Elk IslandNational Park (500 individuals), and twosmall herds (Waterton Lakes National Park(20 individuals), and Bud Cotton BuffaloPaddock (16 individuals).

PopulationEstimates of decline over the last 33-41 yearsrange from 79-88%; this decline has slowedrecently and the Hay-Zama population isincreasing. There are approximately 2582free-ranging bison in Alberta. However, theseanimals currently occupy only a small portionof their original range, which is estimated tohave been 1 823 000 km2 in size.

ThreatsThe biggest threat to bison in Alberta is thepresence of two reportable cattle diseases,bovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis inpopulations or herds in the Greater WoodBuffalo National Park Area. In addition tobeing a concern for recovery of healthy bisonherds in wild populations, these diseases areof concern to commercial cattle and bisonindustries.

Another threat is expansion of variousagriculture, forestry, and oil and gas activities

into remaining habitat for futurepotential free-ranging herds. Thisexpansion could limit recovery options indifferent areas. It has been suggestedthat forestry and oil and gas activitiesmight increase grassland and meadowhabitat for bison, however, this has notbeen studied and determinedconclusively.

Both fire suppression and hydrologicaldevelopment threaten recovery of thisspecies by contributing to habitatchange in northern Alberta. Suppressionof fire has led to the conversion ofmeadow habitat, with lots of forage forbison, to forests dominated by aspen.Construction of the dam on the PeaceRiver in British Columbia has altered thewater patterns in the Peace-AthabascaDelta; without flooding, some riparianmeadow areas are being lost to willowinvasion.

ManagementThe wildlife regulations surroundingbison are complex. On provincial land,only free-ranging bison found in theBison Management Area innorthwestern Alberta are considered“wildlife”. All other populations orherds are not considered “wildlife” andthus are not protected under Alberta’sWildlife Act and Regulation. Some ofthese populations include the WentzelLake population, captive, non-commercial herds at Elk Island NationalPark, on Syncrude Canada Ltd. land, andcommercial bison herds in the province.Bison in national parks are protected bynational park regulations and underSchedule 1 of the federal Species At RiskAct.

The bison has been designated asEndangered under Alberta’s Wildlife Actand this makes it illegal to hunt, harm ortraffic in these animals in Alberta withina designated area in the northwesternpart of the province.

Alberta: Endangered statusrecommended; statusmaintained for the populationin northwestern Alberta

British Columbia: Sensitive

Saskatchewan, YukonTerritory: May be at Risk

Manitoba, NorthwestTerritories: At Risk

Canada (wood bison): Threatened; on Schedule 1 ofSpecies at Risk Act (plains bison is underconsideration for listing on Schedule 1 as Threatened)

U.S.: EndangeredGlobal: G4TU, G4T2Q

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NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG (Rana pipiens)

Alberta: Threatened; statusmaintained in 2003

British Columbia: At RiskSaskatchewan, Northwest

Territories: SensitiveLabrador: S2S3, Sensitive

Manitoba, Ontario, Québec,Nova Scotia, New Brunswick:Secure

Prince Edward Island: S4S5,Secure

Nunavut: Not Assessed

HabitatThe northern leopard frog requires anumber of different habitat types.Generally, it is associated with clean andclear water bodies in open or lightlywooded areas with short vegetation.Adults are often found along the edgesof ponds, streams, springs, or lakes, andbreed in warm, shallow, permanent, andsemi-permanent features such aswetlands and lakes. After breeding andtransformation, all age classes move tosummer feeding areas, which are openareas with short grass that are along theedges of water bodies.

DistributionHistorically in Alberta, it is thought thenorthern leopard frog was widelydistributed and locally abundant in theGrassland, Parkland, and FoothillsNatural Regions, and a smaller rangewas also noted in extreme northeasternAlberta. Today, the frog is only found inscattered, isolated populations alongthe Oldman, lower Red Deer, Milk,South Saskatchewan and lower Bowrivers, in the Cypress Hills, and in thenortheast corner of the province.

PopulationThroughout the range in Alberta, abruptand dramatic declines or extirpationsoccurred in the late 1970s and early1980s and these were concurrent withdeclines noted in other parts of thespecies’ North American range. Thespecific cause(s) of the declines inAlberta and elsewhere is unknown;however, there are a number of factorsthat could be involved.

ThreatsTo date, no research has been able todetermine which threats are mostimportant across the range of thenorthern leopard frog in Alberta.

Climate change, particularly droughtand accompanying loss of wetlands,may be important in some populationsin Alberta. Disease may be involved,although ultimately, it is difficult todetermine whether disease is a naturalfeature of the biology of the speciesor is induced by environmentalstressors.

Habitat fragmentation might be aconcern because the northern leopardfrog requires a suite of habitat typesto complete its life cycle – roads mayisolate individuals from seasonalhabitats or make it difficult forindividuals to disperse. This results indecreased gene flow and reduces thechance that immigrating individualswill “rescue” isolated and decliningpopulations.

Habitat loss is believed to be the causeof declines noted in the northwesternUnited States, although the extent towhich it has caused declines in Albertais unknown. Livestock activity inriparian areas could be a potentialthreat, either through trampling orhabitat degradation.

ManagementCurrently, the northern leopard frog islisted as Threatened under Alberta’sWildlife Act. By 2005, AlbertaSustainable Resource Development willprepare a provincial recovery plan toset goals, objectives, strategies, andmanagement actions needed to guiderecovery for this species over the nextfive years.

Since 1999, reintroduction of thenorthern leopard frog has beenattempted at three sites in centralAlberta. Initial evidence suggestsrelease efforts have been successful inat least one site.

Canada (COSEWIC): Endangered (southernmountain population), Special Concern(western boreal/prairie population), Not atRisk (eastern population)

U.S.: N5Global: G5

The northern leopard frog is amedium-sized frog that varies incolor from intense green to palebrown. It has a mosaic ofhaloed, dark spots on its back,legs, and sides. A key featureused to distinguish this frog isthe pair of white to cream-colored ridges that extend frombehind the eye to the base ofthe hind legs. The call soundslike a creaky door or a personrunning their fingers over aninflated balloon.

Northern leopard frogs spendthe winter hibernating at thebottom of well-oxygenated

water bodies that do not freezeto the bottom. In Alberta, theyemerge shortly after the icemelts. Most breeding occursbetween late April and lateJune. Eggs hatch in about fivedays. About 60 to 90 days afterhatching, tadpolesmetamorphose into frogs, andtheir diet changes from floatingvegetation and detritus toinsects, spiders, and otherinvertebrates as well as smallbirds, snakes, frogs and fish.

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WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (Melanitta fusca deglandi)

The white-winger scoter is alarge-bodied sea duck. Malesare black with a tick of whitenear their eye; females andyoung are olive brown with asmall, white cheek and earpatches that may be visible.Both sexes have white wingpatches that are most likely tobe visible when they fly.Generally, they are silent exceptduring breeding when theymay croak or whistle.

Female scoters are nest-sitephilopatric, meaning theyreturn to the same nest site insubsequent years; males arenot. The white-winged scoter isa late-nesting duck, arriving onbreeding lakes in mid-May. Thisspecies lays 8-10 eggs in earlyJune. Scoters are a long-livedduck species. Females bandedas adults survived 10 yearsafter banding, one lasting 18years. Adults eat primarilyaquatic invertebratesthroughout the year.

Alberta: Species of Special Concern; recommended in 2002British Columbia, Manitoba, Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova

Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island: SecureNorthwest Territories, Yukon Territory, Saskatchewan: Sensitive

Ontario: May be at RiskCanada (COSEWIC): Not AssessedU.S.: N5B, N5NGlobal: G5

HabitatIn Alberta, the white-winged scoterbreeds on large, permanent wetlands andlakes and nests in dense or low groundcover near these areas or on shrub-covered islands. They spend their wintersalong the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.Continentally, the majority of scoters arethought to breed in the boreal forest andtaiga plain of North America.

DistributionHistorically, the white-winged scoter wasfound across Alberta, but it has virtuallydisappeared from the southern half ofthe province. This species once bred onlarge, permanent wetlands and lakesthroughout the prairies. In other areas,the breeding distribution is found in thewestern boreal forest from Alaskathrough western Canada, east toHudson’s Bay, and south into the prairieand parkland. However, the southernextent of the distribution has retractedsince the 1900s and no longer includesNorth Dakota or southern Saskatchewanor Manitoba.

PopulationHistorically, Alberta made upapproximately one-sixth of the NorthAmerican breeding range of the white-winged scoter. In the southern half ofAlberta, population surveys from 1956-2001 suggest a decline of about 40-50%. In the north, the decline is thoughtto be of similar, but of lower magnitude.In the last 10 years, it appears thenorthern population may have stabilized.However, overall, the entire Albertapopulation has not recovered from thelong-term decline. Similarly, across NorthAmerica, breeding populationsthroughout most of the range aredeclining or disappearing, particularly inthe southern portion of the range.

ThreatsThreats to the white-winger scoter arenot well understood, nor has anyparticular limiting factor orcombination of factors beenconclusively identified. It is thoughtthat scoter populations may be limitedby factors on their wintering groundssince abundant breeding habitat isavailable throughout the breedingrange. Bioaccumlation of toxins maybe affecting reproductive success,though this has not been tested. Localhunting pressure has likely affectedcertain populations.

ManagementAlberta’s Endangered SpeciesConservation Committee hasrecommended development of anappropriate management strategy,which should include inventory andinvestigation of factors involved inpopulation declines in Alberta. Thereare no harvest limits for scoters inAlberta, but harvest appears to occurat low rates relative to other duckspecies.

The Federal Migratory Bird Regulationsconsiders the white-winged scoter alegal game bird, and the species isconsidered a game species throughoutits range. It has recently beenrecognized as a priority species underthe Sea Duck Joint Venture (SDJV) ofthe North American WaterfowlManagement Plan.


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PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus)

Habitat and DistributionThe prairie falcon inhabits dry, openareas of southern Alberta with clay,sandstone or rock cliffs and outcrops,particularly along rivers, streams or neara large water body. Open prairie withperch sites, as well as low vegetationthat contains prey such as groundsquirrels and med-sized birds, makesideal prairie falcon habitat.

The breeding distribution of the prairiefalcon is generally from Red Deer southto central and northern Mexico. Thespecies occurs as far east as the easternborder of Colorado, and as far west asthe Pacific in its southern distribution.Within Alberta, the prairie falcon islocated mainly along main waterwaysand their tributaries.

PopulationIt is estimated that the Canadianpopulation of prairie falcons is between250 and 500 pairs. The Albertapopulation consists of approximately81% of the Canadian population, and6% of the continental population. Theprairie falcon is considered rare in BritishColumbia (8 pairs), and Saskatchewan(25-50 pairs).

It is difficult to determine short-termpopulation trends for this speciesbecause there is limited recentinformation available. In Alberta, thepopulation appears stable with somelocal declines. Long-term populationtrends depend strongly on themaintenance of prairie grasslands, cliffnest sites, and particularly theconservation of prey species in Alberta.

ThreatsThere are four major threats to prairiefalcon populations. 1) Loss of nativegrasslands to cultivation causes adecrease in ground squirrel population.Considering that 94% of prairie falcon

diet is obtained from ground squirrelcolonies, loss of native prairie is aprimary concern. 2) Loss of nest sitesas a result of cliff erosion is also ofconcern to the prairie falcon as theyare one of the least versatile nestersamong Alberta raptors. Irrigation andflooding have also caused thedestruction of many prairie falcon nestsites. 3) Much like other predatorspecies such as peregrine falcons,prairie falcons are susceptible to theaccumulation of toxic chemicals thatcauses poisoning and mortality inadults and eggs. Although this threathas decreased with restrictions on theuse of mercury compounds andorganochlorides in agriculture, there iscontinued use of many potentialharmful chemicals. 4) Several studiesshow that human disturbance at nestsites is a major threat to prairie falconpopulations.

ManagementAt present, the prairie falcon isdesignated as a Bird of Prey underAlberta’s Wildlife Act/WildlifeRegulation, which makes it illegal tokill, possess, buy, or sell individuals ofthis species in Alberta. Prairie falconshave been managed in several ways inAlberta including a re-introductionprogram at Fish Creek Provincial Park,chick fostering, rehabilitation ofinjured birds, artificial nest siteconstruction, egg sampling forpesticides, and detailed habitatassessment.

Prairie falcons are extremelydependent on ground squirrelpopulations for prey availability.Studies of falcon populations showthat nesting prairie falcons traveled anaverage of 6 km to ground squirrelprey and 4 km to bird prey. It is likelyimpossible to manage prairie falconswithout managing their prey andhabitat.

Alberta: Special Concern; recommended in 2003British Columbia: At RiskSaskatchewan: SensitiveManitoba: Secure

Ontario: AccidentalCanada (COSEWIC): Not at RiskU.S.: N5B, N5NGlobal: G5

The prairie falcon is a mediumto large-sized falcon, verysimilar to the peregrine falcon,though lighter in colour. Theprairie falcon has a distinctivedark “wingpit”. When agitated,the prairie falcon utters a harsh“kek, kek, kek”.

Adult prairie falcons typicallyoverwinter in southern Alberta,whereas juveniles migrate southto the United States andnorthern Mexico. Territories aregenerally established in March,although in mild winters,territories may be occupiedthroughout the winter.

Falcons generally lay one clutchof 4-5 eggs annually, and youngare usually fledged by the endof June. Juvenile mortality(65%-85%) is much higherthan adult (19-35%). Maximumlifespan of the prairie falconmay be as long as 20 years,though the estimated lifeexpectancy for breeding adultsranges from 2.4-4.9 years.


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AMERICAN BADGER (Taxidea taxus)

HabitatBadgers are most often located inopen, treeless habitats with anavailable food source of fossorial(burrowing) mammals. Rarely arebadgers found in forested areas,although sometimes they willoverwinter in sheltered areas. Habitatquality and quantity in Alberta havedecreased dramatically since pre-settlement conditions. Althoughclearing of aspen parkland has allowedsome range extension, cultivation,urbanization and industrial activitieshave restricted badgers by eliminatinghabitat and prey.

DistributionIn Alberta, the historical distribution ofthe American badger from the NorthSaskatchewan River to the UnitedStates border. Recently, the badger’sdistribution has expanded over 50 kmnorth of the North SaskatchewanRiver.

PopulationHistorically, the badger population inAlberta has fluctuated as a result oftrapper harvest. Although abundant in1927, unregulated harvest resulted insuch low numbers that the trappingseason was closed between 1935 and1941. Currently, the badgerpopulation is estimated to be between1000 and 10 000 individuals and issuspected to be decreasing. At theestimated maximum, this populationsize is approximately half of thehistoric pelt harvest of 1928 (18 000pelts). The Prairie population isestimated at 17 700 to 43 900individuals. Population trends areuncertain throughout the distributionof the American badger.

ThreatsChanging land use and reduction in preyseem to be the primary factors affectingbadgers. Although forest clearing hasencouraged badgers to expand theirdistribution, cultivation has removedmuch badger habitat. Badgers aretrapped, shot, and poisoned becausetheir diggings are thought to causebroken legs in livestock, lead to waterloss from irrigation canals, causedamage to vehicles encountering theirburrows, and cause damage incemeteries. Rodent control programs,intensive petroleum development andurban expansion have caused increasedmortality, and may limit habitat and preyavailability.

ManagementThe American badger is ranked asSensitive according to the GeneralStatus of Alberta Wild Species 2000.The badger is classified as a furbearerbut is not a major target of wild furmanagement in Alberta. Seasons existfor all areas except Fur ManagementZones 1 and 2 found approximatelynorth of Slave Lake. To date, there havebeen no management or researchactivities focusing on the Americanbadger in Alberta. Badgers may behunted without a license and during allseasons on privately owned land towhich the resident has the right ofaccess.

Federally, the badger was designated asNot at Risk in 1979. A re-evaluation ofthe species in 2002 revealed a splittingof the species into three subspecies. T. t.jeffersonii (British Columbia) and T. t.jacksoni (Ontario) were both designatedas Endangered, whereas T. t. taxus(Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) wasdesignated as Not at Risk.

Alberta: Data Deficient; recommended in 2002British Columbia: At RiskSaskatchewan: SensitiveManitoba: SecureOntario: May be at Risk

Canada (COSEWIC): Not at Risk (T. t. taxus), Endangered (T. t.jacksoni, T. t. jeffersoni)

U.S.: N5Global: G5

The American badger is alarge nocturnal mustelid thatis thick-set, broad, squat, andmuscular, with short,powerful legs. The badgerhas short ears and tail, apointed nose, and a broadtriangular head. The thickpelage is yellowish grey witha white stripe from the noseto the shoulders. The fur islonger on the sides giving theanimal a flattenedappearance and flowingnature as the animal moves.The front feet are adapted fordigging and have claws aslong as 5 cm in length.

Badgers live in dens up to 10m in length, with a diameterof about 30 cm. Althoughthey may prey on several AtRisk and May be at Riskspecies, the burrows thatbadgers create are used bymany different speciesincluding the burrowing owl(Threatened), swift fox(Endangered), and severalsnake species. Mating occursin late July and August.Litters of 1 to 5 young areborn between late April andJune.

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MOUNTAIN PLOVER (Charadrius montanus)

HabitatContrary to its name, the plover does notlive in the mountains. Rather, it has specificrequirements for open, flat uplands thatinclude areas of short vegetation and barepatches in the Dry Mixedgrass Subregion ofthe Grassland Natural Region. Disturbed, dryareas, often heavily grazed or recentlyburned, are preferred.

DistributionThe breeding range of the plover in Albertaconsists of two locations in southeasternAlberta. Breeding has also occurred insouthwestern Saskatchewan. In the UnitedStates, the range extends from Montana,Wyoming, and Colorado, throughnorthwestern Texas. It has been extirpatedfrom North and South Dakota.

PopulationThe Alberta population has been estimatedat between 0 and12 birds, and there haveprobably never been more than 50 birds inCanada. The Alberta population accounts foronly 1% of the North American population,which is estimated at 8000-10 000 birds.

The species is difficult to detect in fieldsurveys and no population trend isdiscernible in Alberta. There have been noconfirmed breeding observations in Albertasince 1990; however, survey effort andfrequency have varied. Despite theseuncertainties, it is known that in the UnitedStates the population has experienceddramatic range-wide declines of 50-89%,although this rate of decline seems to havedecreased somewhat in the last decade.

ThreatsThreats include conversion of nativegrassland to croplands, particularly fromassociated seeding activities. The plover isattracted to these areas because they mimictheir natural habitat; however, these areashave little food for the plover. Absence ofsmall areas of native grasslands that areheavily grazed, along with reduced firefrequency, might also threaten this species.

The mountain plover, and other plantsand animals of the shortgrass prairie,evolved largely within an erratic patternof grazing activities of bison, pronghorn,and numerous burrowing animals as wellas frequent fires. Grazing and fire createda suite of lightly, moderately, and heavilydisturbed areas of different shapes andsizes across the prairies. Today, manyrange management practices favourhomogeneous grazing of grasslands bydomestic stock and fire suppression inmany areas. Consequently, habitat is notas variable as is required for thepersistence of this species.

Certain weather patterns are alsoimportant to this species. In years of highaverage precipitation, tall grass cover maydiscourage the bird from nesting.Conversely, in years of drought, birds maynot nest if food is scarce. If droughtseverity worsens on the prairies, or ifweather conditions become moreextreme, the mountain plover mightbecome an even less common breedingbird in Alberta.

ManagementAt present, the mountain plover isdesignated as a Non-game Animal underAlberta’s Wildlife Act/Wildlife Regulation,which makes it illegal to kill, possess, buy,or sell the plover in Alberta. Alberta’sEndangered Species ConservationCommittee has recommended to theMinister of Sustainable ResourceDevelopment that the mountain plover belisted as Endangered in Alberta. Themountain plover is listed as Endangeredin Canada and is on Schedule 1 of thefederal Species at Risk Act.

A provincial recovery team, withrepresentation from many affectedstakeholders, will be formed to addresssome of these questions and others in arecovery plan. The plan will also outlinegoals, objectives, and strategies that willguide recovery or management of thespecies over the next five years.

Alberta: In process (Endangered status recommended in 2004)Saskatchewan: AccidentalCanada: Endangered; on Schedule 1 of Species at Risk Act

U.S.: N2B, N2NGlobal: Vulnerable (IUCN)

The mountain plover is amedium-sized shorebird that isonly slightly smaller than akilldeer. Generally, the bird issilent; the most often heardvocalization in Alberta is a low,guttural alarm call given byadults near young. The speciesis short-lived, with an averagelifespan of only two years.

The plover arrives in Alberta inApril. Breeding probablycommences in early to mid-May.Most plovers spend the winterin central California, althoughthe wintering range alsoextends from northern Mexicothrough southern Texas.


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BANFF SPRINGS SNAIL (Physella johnsoni)

The Banff Springs snail is asmall, inconspicuous, globe-like snail that is only found inone area in the world – thethermal springs (also knownas hotsprings) on SulphurMountain in Banff NationalPark in Alberta.

The snail has lungs andbreathes air; however, it alsohas a rudimentary gill that issomewhat reduced comparedwith other similar species.The reduced gill and lack of

dissolved oxygen in thermalsprings may explain why thesnail is predominantly foundnear the water surfaces ofthermal springs.

The Banff Springs snail is anintegral part of thebiodiversity of thermalsprings – these ecosystemsinclude a variety of otherplants, animals, and bacteriathat call these springs, orareas nearby, their home.

Habitat and DistributionThe Banff Springs snail is only found infive thermal springs near the town ofBanff, although it previously occupiedfour additional springs in the same area.Four of five springs where it is currentlyfound are in areas of high human use.

This snail clings to rocks, sticks, needles,cones and leaves, at or near the surfaceof the water, or clings to floating mats ofmicrobes.

PopulationPopulation counts fluctuate seasonally;however, a reasonable minimumestimate of the population size is 2000mature snails. Numbers appear to berelatively stable or have increased overthe last five years (1999-2004).

ThreatsThe greatest threat to this species ishuman use of the thermal springs. Tosome extent, all of the springs where thissnail is found have been disturbed byhumans – water flow has been divertedfor public use, illegal swimming and‘limb-dipping” (dipping of arms or legsinto the water) occur (which introduceharmful substances such as detergentsand sunscreen to the water), andgarbage and coins litter some springs.Another threat is changes in the flow ofspring water, possibly resulting fromclimate change. For example, water flowhas stopped periodically at both theUpper Hot and Upper Middle Springs. Afinal threat comes from waterfowl andother birds that eat the snail as prey.

ManagementIn 1997, Alberta’s Wildlife Act wasamended to allow designation,protection and recovery of Threatenedand Endangered invertebrates. Anational recovery plan is currentlybeing developed for this species,which is protected under the federalSpecies at Risk Act and the CanadaNational Parks Act. The federallegislation makes it illegal to harmthese animals anywhere or at any timeon any federal land in Canada,including Banff National Park.

This species is found only in BanffNational Park, and for this reason,primary responsibility for itsconservation and recovery rests withthe federal government, and for thisreason, Alberta Sustainable ResourceDevelopment has not been involved inconservation of the Banff Springs snail.However, if any individuals are foundoutside the National Park system, theprovince will become moreinstrumental in recovery planning andprocesses.

Alberta: In process (Endangered status recommended in 2004)Canada: Endangered; on Schedule 1 of Species at Risk ActGlobal: G1, “Critically Imperiled”


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LAKE STURGEON (Acipenser fulvescens)

HabitatIn Alberta, the lake sturgeon is found inlarge, freshwater rivers with diverse habitat,many different types of prey, and a naturalvariation in water flow. Preferred habitatvaries according to life stage – spawningsturgeon require fast-flowing, rocky areas,juveniles prefer habitat with flat sandybottoms, and adults prefer deep, mid-riverareas and pools with silt and rock substrate.In other areas, the lake sturgeon is found inlakes that offer some of the same habitatcharacteristics.

DistributionIn Alberta, one subpopulation of lakesturgeon is found in the lower reaches of theOldman, Bow, and Red Deer rivers, and theSouth Saskatchewan River to theSaskatchewan border. The secondsubpopulation is found in the NorthSaskatchewan River to the Brazeau andlower Clearwater rivers. The Albertapopulation is considered to represent thewesternmost extent of the species’ range inNorth America.

Throughout the rest of North America, thelake sturgeon has a wide distribution thatincludes the Great Lakes, the Hudson-JamesBay, and Mississippi River drainages.

PopulationIn Alberta, numbers of lake sturgeon areundoubtedly lower than they were in the1800s; the historical decline has beenattributed to high rates of harvest. It wasn’tuntil the 1980s that the populationrecovered to low but significant numbers. Asof 2002, population densities were very lowand the population as a whole is consideredto be declining. Furthermore, sturgeonsubpopulations in both the North and SouthSaskatchewan Rivers are considered at orbelow critical densities needed for long-termpersistence of the population.

Throughout the rest of the North Americanrange, sturgeon populations have declined insize and have been lost from former parts oftheir historic range (e.g., Lake Winnipegdrainage).

ThreatsThere are a number of potential threats tolake sturgeons in Alberta. Construction ofdams has caused a loss of spawninghabitat and barriers to migration. Variousdams have isolated the Albertapopulation from the nearest significantpopulation of sturgeon in easternSaskatchewan and western Manitoba.Dam operations also affect availability offood and nutrients, and othercomponents of community structure andecology. Increasing use of river water forhydroelectric development, irrigation, anddischarge of industrial and municipaleffluents like sewage is considered athreat to habitat, but also to the health ofindividual fish. Overharvesting may alsobe a concern. In both the North andSouth Saskatchewan Rivers, harvest rates(legal, illegal, or accidental) exceedpotential sustainable harvest yields of 5-10%. Generally, the lake sturgeon is moresusceptible to overharvesting than otherfish species because of its longevity, itsdelayed maturation, and infrequentspawning.

ManagementThe lake sturgeon is managed andprotected as a game fish in Alberta. In1997, Alberta’s Wildlife Act was amendedto allow designation, protection andrecovery of Threatened and Endangeredfish. Within two years of listing thisspecies, a provincial recovery team,including Alberta Sustainable ResourceDevelopment and other stakeholders, willprepare a provincial recovery plan to setgoals, objectives, strategies, andmanagement actions needed to guiderecovery for this species over the next fiveyears. Initial conservation efforts willfocus on a review of conservation andmanagement strategies for lake sturgeonin Alberta, with particular attention tomanagement of angling activity. Morestudy and inventory on this species in theSouth Saskatchewan River may also behelpful.

Alberta: In process (Threatened statusrecommended in 2003)

Saskatchewan: not listedManitoba: not listed

Ontario: SensitiveQuébec: May be at RiskCanada (COSEWIC): Endangered (western

populations), Special Concern (elsewhere in Canada)

The lake sturgeon is a veryprehistoric-looking fish, with abody armor of bony plates. Ithas been called a living fossilbecause 100 million year-oldfossils have been found thatlook much like lake sturgeon dotoday.

The lake sturgeon can grow tobe incredibly large – fish thatweigh 45 kg have beenreported. They can also live avery long time – males can liveto 55 years and females, 80years or more. The maximumlifespan reported in Alberta is78 years, while in Canada it is154 years!

U.S.: N3N4Global: G3


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WESTERN SILVERY MINNOW (Hybognathus argyritis)

The western silvery minnowaverages 75 to 125 mm inlength. It has an elongatedbody with a stout narrowsection just before the tail.The short, bluntly triangularhead has a rounded snoutthat overhangs the mouth,which opens toward thebottom. The caudal fin isforked. Spawning males arelight yellow along the sidesand lower fins. The fish isotherwise silvery with abroad, slaty mid-dorsal stripe.

Little is known about thewestern silvery minnow;most information comesfrom other minnow species.Females begin spawning inMay at around one year ofage, males probably do notspawn until their secondyear. Non-adhesive eggs are1 mm in diameter, and hatchin six to seven days. Thenumber of eggs ranges from2000 to 6600 eggs, andincreases with female size.The diet of this fish consistsof diatoms, algae andbottom debris.

Alberta: In process (Threatened status recommended in 2003)Saskatchewan: AccidentalCanada: Threatened; on Schedule 1 of Species at Risk Act

U.S.: N4Global: G4

HabitatThe western silvery minnow is usuallyfound in the backwaters and pools oflarger, northern streams of the plains,where the gravelly, sand, muck ordebris-covered bottom is not covered bysilt. Spawning occurs in shallow (30 cmdeep), heavily vegetated backwaters inslower moving reaches of streams. Theideal habitat is quiet water rich inphytoplankton.

Distribution and populationThis species occurs in the backwaters oflarge streams in the plains of theMississippi River Basin, from the mouthof the Ohio River north to the MissouriBasin and Milk River in Montana. InCanada, it is found only in the MilkRiver in southern Alberta, where itusually makes up less than one percentof the fish captured during surveys. Thespecies was more abundant in the MilkRiver before 1900. The decline occurredwhen waters began to be channeledinto the river for irrigation. This led toincreased turbidity, which likely causedthe population to decline. During asevere drought in 2001, the Milk Riverwas reduced to a series of isolatedpools; however the western silveryminnow survived this period, likely bytaking refuge in those pools.

Older studies suggest that the westernsilvery minnow has been extirpatedfrom Ohio, as well as extensivelythroughout the United States. Nospecific locations have been provided,likely because no specific records weretaken in the early 1900s when thespecies distribution is thought to havebeen affected.

ThreatsSiltation and turbidity are blamed forthe minnow’s decline in Missouri andOhio. The same factors likely exist inCanada. The Milk River flowsthrough short-grass prairie habitat,which is subject to continuouserosion producing a high rate ofsiltation; channeling and overgrazingalso contribute to erosion.

ManagementIn 1997, Alberta’s Wildlife Act wasamended to allow designation,protection and recovery ofThreatened and Endangered fish.Within two years of listing thisspecies, a provincial recovery team,including Alberta SustainableResource Development and otherstakeholders, will prepare aprovincial recovery plan to set goals,objectives, strategies, andmanagement actions needed toguide recovery for this species overthe next five years. Initialconservation efforts will focus oncollecting information on populationsize, distribution, trends, and habitatavailability

The western silvery minnow isconsidered Threatened under thefederal Species at Risk Act (SARA).This designation makes it illegal tokill, possess, buy, harm, harass,collect or sell individuals of thisspecies in Canada.


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SHORTJAW CISCO (Coregonus zenithicus)


Saskatchewan: UndeterminedNorthwest Territories: May Be At Risk

Manitoba: SensitiveOntario: ThreatenedCanada: Threatened; on Schedule 2 of

Species at Risk Act

HabitatThe shortjaw cisco is generally found indeep, cold, and very large lakes.However, the species appears to beadaptable and can be found inshallower lakes (e.g., Barrow Lake inAlberta).

DistributionMost shortjaw cisco in North Americaare found in the Great Lakes Basin.Outside this basin, the distributionstretches across the Great Lakes toGreat Slave Lake in the NorthwestTerritories. However, the populationsoutside the Great Lakes Basin arethought to be small and widelyscattered. Furthermore, the exactdistribution in the north is unknownbecause much of this area is remote andrelatively few lakes have been sampled.

In Alberta, the known distribution ofshortjaw cisco is small and limited toBarrow Lake in the Canadian ShieldRegion of northeastern Alberta.Possibly, the species may be found inLake Athabasca, Cold Lake, or GregoireLake; however, more research andsampling are needed before this can bedetermined conclusively.

PopulationThe small, isolated population ofshortjaw cisco in Barrow Lake, Alberta isthought to be stable. However, therehave been serious declines noted inother parts of the shortjaw cisco rangein Canada. Populations in LakesMichigan, Huron, and Erie areapparently extirpated, while populationsin Lake Superior and Lake Nipigon aredeclining.

ThreatsIn Alberta, the population appearsstable and is not under any immediatethreat of extinction. However, thedistribution of shortjaw cisco is limitedto one lake in the province, making theAlberta population especially vulnerableto any threats. Current threats to theAlberta population include potentialcompetition and interbreeding with theclosely related and abundant lakeherring. These threats are generallydifferent from those faced by theshortjaw cisco in its Great Lakes rangewhere overfishing, predation by sealamprey, and the effects of otherintroduced species are the main causesof extirpation or decline.

ManagementThe shortjaw cisco is managed andprotected as a game fish in Alberta. In1997, Alberta’s Wildlife Act wasamended to allow designation,protection and recovery of Threatenedand Endangered fish. Within two yearsof listing this species, a provincialrecovery team, including AlbertaSustainable Resource Development andother stakeholders, will prepare aprovincial recovery plan to set goals,objectives, strategies, and managementactions needed to guide recovery forthis species over the next five years.Initial conservation efforts will focus onidentifying and conserving the existingpopulation.

Other ongoing research by the ProvincialMuseum of Alberta and Fisheries andOceans Canada is focused on identifyingwhether other populations of shortjawcisco exist in lakes other than BarrowLake in Alberta.

U.S.: N3Global: G3

The shortjaw cisco is one of twospecies of cisco known to occurin Alberta – the other is thecommon cisco or lake herringthat is widespread in Alberta.Both shortjaw cisco and lakeherring are trout-like fishes thatare shiny and silver in color. Forthis and other reasons, they canbe very difficult to tell apart. Themost widely accepted way totell these species apart is bycounting gillrakers - theshortjaw cisco generally hasfewer gillrakers. However, evenwith this distinction, it can bevery difficult to tell these twospecies apart with any certainty– even for species experts.

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SMALL-FLOWERED SAND-VERBENA(Tripterocalyx micranthus)

The small-flowered sand-verbena is an annual plantthat grows to heights of 20to 50 cm. It is a member ofthe ‘four o’clock’ family ofplants – a fitting name sinceflowers tend to open in thelate afternoon. The tiny,greenish-white flowersappear from May to July. Thefruit are pale pinkish-green,about 2 cm long, and havetwo to three thin, paperywings. The plant isconsidered to be ‘ephemeral’in that it grows quickly,flowers early, produces seed,and then dies, all in a shortperiod of time. Seeds aredispersed by the wind.


Saskatchewan: Endangered

Canada (COSEWIC): ThreatenedU.S.: NNRGlobal: G5

Habitat

The sand-verbena is found in dry, sand dunehabitats in the Dry Mixedgrass Subregion ofthe Grassland Natural Region in Alberta. Topersist in sand dunes or sandhills, the plantseems to require at least some drifting sand.Sand-verbena seems to prefer hard-packed,finer sand on level ground though it hasbeen found on slopes and along dune ridgetops.

The sand-verbena is adapted to surviving inthis dry and harsh environment. By settingseed early in the season, the plants survivethe heat and/or drought of midsummer asdormant seeds. The plant is also low andshrub-like in form, which allows it to trapfine silts and clays that have high water-holding capacities.

Distribution

The small-flowered sand-verbena is knownfrom eight general locations in southeasternAlberta, most of which are associated withthe South Saskatchewan River. One locationis associated with the Lost River near theMontana border. In Saskatchewan, the plantis only known from one location, just east ofthe Alberta border, near the town ofEmpress. This species is much more widelydistributed in the United States.

Population

Despite diligent efforts by a number ofdifferent investigators looking for this plant,no other locations have been found. Amaximum estimate of numbers of plants inAlberta is 3600 plants. However, atindividual locations, there can betremendous variation in plant numbers fromyear to year – for example, in 2001, adrought year, only one plant was found atthe Lower Bow site, but in 2002, the samelocation had 789 plants!

Threats

The largest immediate threat to this plant isdune stabilization that is allowing various

other prairie species to overtake theopen and sandy habitat required bysand-verbena. The dunes are stabilizingbecause both fire and grazing bison arenow absent - historically, both wereprominent ecological processes on theCanadian prairies. Some ‘weedy’ speciesnot native to the prairies also furtherstabilize dunes.

Changes in land use of sand dune andsandhill habitats are also a concern.Dune habitats have been completelycultivated or encircled by cultivation thatprevents the dune from spreading. Sandis also being removed from habitats tosupport other development projects.ATV use of the dune slopes can alsodamage the plant.

Management

In 1997, Alberta’s Wildlife Act wasamended to allow designation,protection and recovery of Threatenedand Endangered plants. Within twoyears of listing this species, a provincialrecovery team, including AlbertaSustainable Resource Development andother stakeholders, will prepare aprovincial recovery plan to set goals,objectives, strategies, and managementactions needed to guide recovery for thisspecies over the next five years.Recovery planning will considerinventory and management approachesthat conserve a variety of species in therare sandhills landscape. In the interim,biologists are contacting landowners orlessees to identify their concerns andattempt to reach cooperativeagreements regarding conservation ofsand-verbena and dune habitat onprivate property.

The small-flowered sand-verbena islisted under Schedule 1 of the federalSpecies At Risk Act, and as such, it isillegal to kill, harm, possess or collectindividuals of the species on federalland.



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ST. MARY SCULPIN (provisionally Cottus bairdipunctulatus)

HabitatSculpins are nocturnal and usuallyspend daylight hours hiding beneathrocky cover. St. Mary sculpins areusually found in moderately coolstreams with riffle habitat, rocky orgravel substrate, and weak to strongcurrents, and are usually absent frompools where bottoms are entirely sandor clay. They will spawn under rocks ingaps 0.12 to 0.38 m in diameter. Eggsare usually attached to these rocksthough sometimes they are attached toaquatic vegetation, wood, or otherdebris.

DistributionWithin North America, there are twogeographically isolated groups ofmottled sculpin separated by the GreatPlains. In Canada, the westerndistribution of the mottled sculpinreaches from the Rocky Mountains tothe Pacific coast in a discontinuouspattern. The eastern distribution isfound from Labrador to the HudsonBay drainages of Ontario andManitoba. Two distinct forms havebeen identified in western Canada: theColumbia mottled sculpin, and theRocky Mountain form found insoutheastern British Columbia andsouthwestern Alberta. The RockyMountain form is thought to be theclosest relative to the St. Mary form.The St. Mary sculpin inhabits only theSt. Mary and Milk rivers in Alberta.

PopulationThe St. Mary sculpin is consideredlocally abundant where it is found inAlberta. In 2000 and 2001 this specieswas considered the highest or secondhighest in relative abundance in theMilk and St. Mary rivers. Populationsizes were highest in the North MilkRiver, and decreased downstream towhere they were absent in the lowestsection of the Milk River mainstem.

Population trends are difficult toevaluate given variation in season andlocation of sampling.

ThreatsAlthough locally abundant, the St. Marysculpin has an extremely limiteddistribution. Comparison of sculpinhabitat with other areas in the OldmanRiver system suggests that favourablehabitat is available for this species;however, expansion to this habitat isblocked by the presence of the St. MaryReservoir and the Waterton Reservoirand dam.

Another concern for the persistence ofSt. Mary sculpin is the loss of waterflow resulting from impoundment,diversion, and water removal, incombination with frequent droughtconditions in southern Alberta. Lowwater level decreases habitat availabilityand increases water temperature. Watertemperature is one of the mostimportant factors affecting sculpindistribution in the Milk River.

ManagementIn 1997, Alberta’s Wildlife Act wasamended to allow designation,protection and recovery of Threatenedand Endangered fish. Within two yearsof listing this species, a provincialrecovery team, including AlbertaSustainable Resource Development andother stakeholders, will prepare aprovincial recovery plan to set goals,objectives, strategies, and managementactions needed to guide recovery forthis species over the next five years.Initial conservation efforts will focus onmonitoring, using a multi-speciesapproach integrated with other speciesat risk in the Milk River system, anddefining rescue potential from theadjacent Montana population.


Canada: Evaluation in process

Elsewhere: Taxonomic uncertainty makes determinationof designations in other localities impossible.

The St. Mary’s sculpin is a smallfreshwater fish species. As withmost sculpins, this species islarge-headed and heavy bodied,with no airbladder, and a bodythat tapers from head to tail.The dorsal and pelvic fins haveprotective spines. The maximumlength of the St. Mary sculpin inAlberta is 114 mm.

Spawning season may rangefrom February to Augustdepending on the location.Males appear at nest sitesbefore females, and remainnearby for up to several weeksafter egg laying. It is thoughtthat males remain nearby tokeep nests free of silt anddebris rather than to guard theeggs. Both sexes reach sexualmaturity at approximately 23months. Diet consists largely ofaquatic insect larvae usuallyfound on the upstream side ofrocks.

The taxonomy of the St. Marysculpin is complex andunresolved. Genetic studiessuggest that it is anunrecognized taxon within thewestern mottled sculpincomplex.


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I N P R O C E S S

STONECAT (Noturus flavus)

HabitatIn Alberta, this species is found in deepboulder pools or rocky bottoms in fastmoving rapids and riffles. The stonecat isa nocturnal feeder, spending most dayshiding beneath cobble and bouldersubstrates. Water conditions preferred bythe stonecat range from clear to turbid,though it is intolerant of both fastcurrent in high gradient systems and silt-bottomed, low gradient systems.

DistributionMost of the stonecat distribution occurssouth of the Canada-United Statesinternational border, extending southfrom the St. Lawrence River, to westernNorth Carolina, to northern Mississippi,and west to Montana. In Canada, thestonecat is native to the Great Lakes,their tributaries, and the main rivers ofsouthern Ontario and Quebec. InAlberta, the species is found in the midand lower Milk River, as well as the lowerNorth Milk River. In Manitoba, thestonecat is native to the Red, Assiniboineand Brokenhead river systems. InSaskatchewan this fish is only found inthe Frenchman River. This species isgenerally a good natural disperser.

PopulationThere is virtually no information on thepopulation size of the stonecat inAlberta. It is likely that the populationsize increased since the construction ofthe St. Mary Canal built in 1917, whenwater was diverted from the St. MaryRiver to the North Milk River. Currently,the population is considered stable butof low abundance. It is difficult to assesspopulation size based on existinginformation, however, because samplinghas been done during daylight hourswhen stonecats are generally hidingbeneath rocks and are very difficult tolocate.

ThreatsThe largest threat to the stonecat islow water during drought conditions,usually accentuated by local waterremoval and irrigation. Severe droughtconditions result in stonecats beingisolated in small pools where lowoxygen levels and high watertemperature can reach dangerouslevels.

ManagementIn 1997, Alberta’s Wildlife Act wasamended to allow designation,protection and recovery of Threatenedand Endangered fish. Within two yearsof listing this species, a provincialrecovery team, including AlbertaSustainable Resource Development andother stakeholders, will prepare aprovincial recovery plan to set goals,objectives, strategies, andmanagement actions needed to guiderecovery for this species over the nextfive years. Initial conservation effortswill focus on determining distributionand abundance in relation to waterflow; which will be integrated withinventory on other species at risk in theMilk River system.

Recently, the Fish and Wildlife Divisionof Alberta Sustainable ResourceDevelopment has commissionedongoing surveys for this and otherspecies in the Milk River watershed.Identification of habitat requirementsfor the stonecat through these surveysis critical for the continued survival ofthis species in Alberta.


Saskatchewan: S2S3Manitoba: S5

Ontario: S4Québec: S3Canada: N4U.S.: N5

Global: G5

The stonecat has a small(<203 mm) catfish-type bodywith a very long, low andinconspicuous adipose fin,separated from the tail by atiny notch. The upper jaw ismuch longer than the lowerjaw and there are noserrations on the pectoralspines. The tail is square withthe upper and lower marginwhitish in color. Stonecatshave a yellowish brown colorthat is faintly mottled withdarker brown.

The stonecat is the latestmaturing and longest-lived‘madtom’ species. Femalesreach maturity at around 90-134 mm (3-4 years). Malesare at least 85 mm (3+ years)at maturity. The stonecatspawns from April to August,when temperature exceeds25˚C. Female fecundityincreases with body size;hence, larger females will laymore eggs. The mass ofsticky eggs is guarded by themale until hatching. Thestonecat is a nocturnal,opportunistic, bottom feeder,using its sensitive barbells tosearch for food.

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A P P E N D I X

POLICY STATEMENTfor Alberta’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee

Alberta’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee (ESCC) is comprised of a balance of members fromstakeholder groups representing resource-based land users, corporate and government land managers, conservationorganizations and university scientists. Our mandate is to advise the Minister of Sustainable Resource Developmenton matters relating to the identification, conservation and recovery of species at risk in Alberta. We feel theseprinciples are important in a provincial and federal context. We are operating from a core set of principles thatinclude the following:

one | The identification, conservation and recovery of threatened and

endangered species, as well as prevention of extinction of species, are

shared values of this committee and Albertans in general.

two | The biological status of species should be determined by independent

scientists using the best science available in an open and transparent

process.

three | In accordance with the precautionary principle as stated in the Accord

for Protection of Species at Risk in Canada, where the balance of

scientific information indicates a species is at risk, conservation and

protective measures will be taken.

four | Government has the responsibility to coordinate and facilitate the

recovery of species. However, the success of a recovery plan depends on

the knowledge and commitment of organizations and individuals who

own, manage and use the land. Recovery teams must include these

landowners/land managers.

five | Prevention and recovery programs for species at risk will be pursued by

encouraging voluntary and cooperative, recovery and management

efforts that cost-share on an equitable basis.

six | This committee encourages the elimination of any government policy

disincentives to landowners to protect species at risk.


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Alberta Agriculture,Food and Rural Development

www.agric.gov.ab.ca

AGRICULTURE, FOOD ANDRURAL DEVELOPMENT

Alberta Association of MunicipalDistricts and Counties

www.aamdc.com

Alberta Beef Producers

www.albertabeef.org

Alberta Conservation Association

www.ab-conservation.com

Alberta Sustainable ResourceDevelopment

www3.gov.ab.ca/srd

Alberta Fish and Game Association

www.afga.org

Alberta Forest Products Association

www.albertaforestproducts.ca

Alberta Irrigation Projects Association

www.aipa.org

Alberta Native Plant Council

www.anpc.ab.ca

Alberta Energy

www.energy.gov.ab.ca

Calgary Zoo

www.calgaryzoo.org

Federation of Alberta Naturalists

www.fanweb.ca

Special Areas Board

www.specialareas.ab.ca

The Wildlife Society - Alberta Chapter

www.albertadirectory.com/actws

Canadian Associationof Petroleum Producers

www.capp.ca

Treaty 8 First Nationsof Alberta

www.treaty8.org

University of AlbertaDept. of Biological Sciences

www.biology.ualberta.ca

Western Stock Growers’ Association

www.wsga.ca

University of CalgaryDept. of Biological Sciences

www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/faculties/SC/BI

ENERGY

A L B E R T A ’ S

E N D A N G E R E D

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C O N S E R V A T I O N

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R E P O R T O F

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report ofalber t a ’s endangered species …€¦ · threatened: a species likely to become...

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