Changes in Wildlife Species Disappearance Risks

Identifying wildlife species at risk is the first step toward protecting these species. As of 2011, 616 wildlife species have been assessed as being Endangered, Threatened or of Special Concern[1] by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). COSEWIC is a committee of experts who assess the status of wildlife species populations that may be at risk of disappearing from Canada.

COSEWIC reassesses wildlife species previously designated as being at risk. Of the 371 wildlife species that have been assessed more than once, 65% show no change in status between the most recent assessments, 13% are in a lower risk category, and 22% are in a higher risk category.

Changes in risk of wildlife species disappearance from Canada, 2011

Changes in risk of wildlife species disappearance from Canada, 2011

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How this indicator was calculated

Note: In this analysis, “wildlife species” means a wildlife species, subspecies or a genetically or geographically distinct population. Wildlife species disappearance may refer to extinction or extirpation (i.e., a wildlife species that no longer occurs in the wild in Canada).
Source: COSEWIC, data captured November 2011

COSEWIC assigns one of seven status categories when assessing wildlife species:

  • Extinct (X): A wildlife species that no longer exists.
  • Extirpated (XT): A wildlife species no longer existing in the wild in Canada, but occurring elsewhere.
  • Endangered (E): A wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
  • Threatened (T): A wildlife species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.
  • Special Concern (SC): A wildlife species that may become a threatened or an endangered wildlife species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.
  • Not at Risk (NAR): A wildlife species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk of extinction given the current circumstances.
  • Data Deficient (DD): A category that applies when the available information is insufficient (a) to resolve a wildlife species' eligibility for assessment or (b) to permit an assessment of the wildlife species' risk of extinction.

COSEWIC reports its results to the public and also makes recommendations for listing wildlife species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). COSEWIC initially focused on vertebrates (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes) and plants, so these are the best-represented groups in the change analysis.

Related indicators

Other information

[1] The indicator does not included wildlife species listed as ‘extirpated’ by COSEWIC.