Explore Ontario's Species
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The Status of Ontario's Species
The diversity of native species is an important indicator of the health of Ontario's environment. A decline in environmental health may result in a decline in species populations and possible extinction. We are fortunate to live in a province of rich biodiversity but more species become endangered every year as a result of ever-increasing human activities. More than 190 of Ontario's wild species are at risk – that's over one-third of all of the species at risk in Canada.
An important step in addressing any issue is first identifying the issue and understanding its scope. To prevent the decline or loss of species, we must know which species we have, where they occur, and what their status is.
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| Grey Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) - one of Ontario's Threatened species. |
General Status of Species
As our understanding of the value of diverse, healthy ecosystems increases, the need to understand the biological status of all wild species has become essential. We recognize the need for a broader range of information to successfully conserve species. We need to look at a greater array of species and take into account their roles in the ecosystem. Increasing our knowledge of species and determining the status of these species provides a base from which management and other conservation initiatives can be planned, implemented and assessed.
Reporting on species in Ontario helps answer the following fundamental questions about wild species in Canada: which species occur in which provinces, territories or ocean regions, and what is their status?
Select a species group from the list for status information.
Species at Risk
The status of some species is of special concern. A “species at risk” can be defined as any plant or animal threatened by, or vulnerable to extinction. These plant and animal species at risk can be identified in a number of different ways and at various scales. Some species have official national or provincial “at risk” designation and are protected by various pieces of legislation such as the federal Species At Risk Act (SARA) or the Ontario Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Species listed nationally under SARA are based on the recommendations of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Species listed provincially by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources under the ESA are based on the recommendation of the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). Both of the committees use a set of evaluation criteria to assign species to an appropriate category and require a detailed status report be prepared.
Species at risk status designations used by both Canada and Ontario include:
| Extinct | A species that no longer exists anywhere. |
| Extirpated | A native species that no longer exists in the wild in Ontario, but still occurs elsewhere. |
| Endangered* | Any native species facing extinction or extirpation. |
| Threatened | A native species that is at risk of becoming endangered. |
| Special Concern | A native species that is sensitive to human activities or natural events. |
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is providing protection for species at risk and coordinating recovery and research projects with numerous partners. Visit the Species at Risk website to learn more.
*For Endangered species In Ontario, the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List consists of the provincial status designations of Endangered (regulated) and Endangered (not regulated). Endangered (regulated) species on the SARO list are protected under Ontario's ESA. Species designated as Endangered (not regulated) on the SARO list are eligible for consideration for regulated endangered status under the ESA.
Photography
JD Taylor
