Alberta's species at risk strategies

The General Status of Alberta Wild Species is a report that gives a broad overview of the well-being of each vertebrate wildlife species in the province.

The general status of Alberta's fish and wildlife is reviewed and updated every 5 years, using the most recent knowledge and research results available.

In the general status exercise, information about population size, distribution trends and threats are analyzed. The exercise helps wildlife biologists understand when a species might be vulnerable and in need of intensified management to prevent future decline.

General status ranks

General status ranks are used by government departments and non-government organizations to set priorities for conservation and to alert industry to species that require special consideration when making land-use decisions.

• General Status Background and Categories

In the General Status of Alberta Wild Species, each vertebrate species is given one of the following rankings:

1. At risk
2. May be at Risk
3. Sensitive
4. Secure
5. Undetermined
6. Not assessed
7. Exotic/alien
8. Extirpated/ extinct
9. Accidental/vagrant

When the information about a species in the General Status of Alberta Wild Species exercise indicates that a species may be at risk, that species becomes the focus of a detailed status assessment, which includes the development of a detailed status report.

The determination of general status ranks also occurs in all the provinces and territories of Canada in a similar exercise reported at:

• Wild Species – The General Status of Species in Canada

In that exercise, ranks are generated for many other species groups in addition to the vertebrates. Provincial and territorial ranks are incorporated into a national status rank, which is used to set priorities for detailed status assessment at the national level.

• Learn more about the general status of wild species in Alberta

Search wild species status

To search Alberta's wild species general status database (includes 2020, 2015, 2010, 2005 and 2000 status results):

• Search for Wild Species Status

For past General Status Reports, see

• General Status of Alberta Wild Species 2010 to present
• General Status of Alberta Wild Species 2000 to 2005
• General Status of Alberta Wild Species 1996

To see how the status of Alberta species compares with those in other provinces, see the national species general status ranks at:

• Wild Species: The General status of Species in Canada

A detailed status report is created for those species that receive an at risk or may be at risk designation in the General Status of Alberta Wild Species Report:

1. Species experts prepare the provincial detailed status report. The report is a compilation of all available, current and relevant information about the species that may be at risk.

2. The Scientific Subcommittee (SSC) of the Endangered Species Conservation Committee (ESCC) then receives the detailed status report. The SSC consists of biologists with expertise in fish, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and plants.
   
   Current SCC members

   • Dr. Peter Achuff, Scientist Emeritus, Parks Canada Agency, Waterton Lakes National Park, Waterton Park, Alberta
   • Dr. Darren Bender, (Subcommittee Chair), Professor, Department of Geography, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
   • Dr. Mark Poesch, Associate Professor, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
   • Dr. Barry Robinson, Grassland Bird Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service, Prairie Region, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Edmonton, Alberta

   Using the detailed status report and applying criteria developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the SCC

   • assesses the population trends, size and distribution of the species
   • provides the ESCC with a scientific perspective on the most appropriate detailed status designation for that species

   To read more about the IUCN's criteria for assessing the stability of a species population, see:

   • IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria

3. The Endangered Species Conservation Committee (ESCC) considers the SSC's detailed status recommendation and makes a recommendation to the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas on the assessed status of the species, as well as on any appropriate response.
   
   The ESCC includes representatives from:

   • Agricultural communities
   • Environmental conservation organizations
   • Government land and resource management agencies
   • Indigenous organizations
   • Land and resource-based industries
   • Members of the scientific/academic community

   ESCC member organizations

   Chair

   • Mr. Todd Loewen, MLA, Central Peace-Notley

   Members

   • Agricultural Service Boards – Provincial Committee
   • Alberta Beef Producers
   • Alberta Conservation Association
   • Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
   • Alberta Fish and Game Association
   • Alberta Forest Products Association
   • Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association
   • Alberta Irrigation Districts Association
   • Alberta Native Plant Council
   • Alberta Trappers Association
   • Alberta Tree Hound Association
   • Blackfoot Confederacy
   • Calgary Zoo
   • Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
   • Métis Nation of Alberta
   • Metis Settlements General Council
   • Nature Alberta
   • Nature Conservancy of Canada
   • Rural Municipalities of Alberta
   • SCI Canada Foundation
   • Special Areas Board
   • Treaty 6 First Nations
   • Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta
   • University of Alberta (Dept. of Biological Sciences)
   • University of Alberta (Department of Renewable Resources)
   • University of Calgary (Dept. of Biological Sciences)
   • University of Lethbridge (Department of Biological Sciences)
   • Western Stock Growers' Association
   • The Wildlife Society

   Ex-officios

   • Agriculture and Irrigation
   • Alberta Energy
   • Environment and Climate Change Canada
   • Fisheries and Oceans Canada

   Find Alberta Endangered Species Conservation Committee Reports at Species at Risk Publications & Web Resources – Species at Risk Committee and Status Reports

4. The Minister of Environment and Protected Areas receives the SSC's recommendation, along with the ESCC's recommendations for detailed status and initial conservation actions. The Minister reviews the recommendations and makes a decision on detailed status designation.

Each species for which detailed status assessment is completed is given one of the following designations:

• Endangered – A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
• Threatened – A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.
• Special concern – A species of special concern because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.
• Data deficient – A species for which there is insufficient scientific information to support status designation.

Species that are designated as endangered or threatened are then legally identified as such under Alberta's Wildlife Act.

This makes the harvesting or trafficking of that species illegal, punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 2 years. There is also a year-round prohibition against disturbing the nest or den of an animal listed as endangered or threatened.

• Data deficient species become a higher priority for future work such as surveys and focused research.
• For endangered or threatened species, a recovery plan will be produced, often involving advice from a recovery team
• For species of special concern, a conservation management plan is developed to guide management of the species and its habitat.

To find the list of endangered or threatened species, see Schedule 6 of the Wildlife Regulation.

Once a species has been designated as endangered or threatened, a recovery plan is developed.

The overall recovery goal for most species is to restore them to viable, naturally self-sustaining populations within Alberta. However, for some species with naturally very small populations or limited ranges, the goal may be to maintain their numbers.

For many species, a recovery team is formed to assist in developing the recovery plan, under the direction of Alberta Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Branch.

Recovery team members are generally selected to represent a cross-section of stakeholders, including:

• academic institutions
• conservation organizations actively involved with the species or its habitat
• government agencies that have management authority for the species or its habitat
• industrial operators that could potentially have their operations or opportunities affected by recovery strategies and actions
• landowners within the range of the species (or their representatives, such as counties or agricultural organizations)
• other resource users

A recovery plan should be produced within one year of legal designation for endangered species and 2 years for threatened species.

A recovery plan includes a goal, specific objectives, strategies, and actions with associated timelines required for recovery of the particular threatened or endangered species.

A draft recovery plan is presented to the Endangered Species Conservation Committee (ESCC), and then is forwarded on to the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas for approval.

Recovery plans are reviewed and updated regularly.

• Status of provincial recovery plans (April 2023)

Prevention strategies focus on conserving species before they need legal protection and recovery plans.

Any species that is designated as a species of special concern in a detailed status evaluation becomes eligible for special management actions. These management actions are designed to prevent the species from becoming threatened or endangered.

Conservation management plans provide guidance for species and habitat conservation and are to be used in land, water and resource management decisions made by government, land owners or lease-holders and industry.

These plans are normally prepared by biologists from the Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Branch and include the feedback of other government departments.

Prevention strategies also include the collection of information for data deficient species. Once data deficiencies are remedied the species is resubmitted to the SSC for another status assessment.

Recovery and management planning is only effective when implemented.

The implementation of recovery plans is overseen by a Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Branch biologist who serves as the provincial species lead.

Implementation of actions generally cannot be done by the Alberta government alone but rather is dependent on the cooperative efforts of partners and stakeholders.

Recovery and management actions may be carried out by government agencies, non-government organizations and individuals.

The recovery plan generally includes strategies such as:

• evaluation processes
• habitat management and conservation
• public education initiatives
• species inventory and monitoring

These strategies are delivered through specific actions designed to lead to the direct improvement of a species' population or habitat.