Land owners and farmers are great stewards of the land who recognize and appreciate the value of biodiversity in Ontario. Working the land day in and day out, land owners and farmers demonstrate their appreciation for Ontario’s biodiversity by preserving the land today so that future generations can benefit tomorrow. A big part of continuing this tradition of good stewardship is knowing what steps to take when a protected species is found on your property.
From best management practices to conservation efforts, there’s a lot you can do to help protected species. The act isn’t aimed at getting in the way of the work you do, but to support the protection and recovery of species at risk including the positive contributions you can make to Ontario’s wildlife.
How the act works for you
The ministry can help you understand how the act applies to your land, and how to make it work best for you. We can help guide you in your planning process with facts and photos of species at risk, information about incentive programs and examples of how others have successfully worked with protected species on their land.
Success for Ontario farm families
Farmers in Ontario know what it’s like to work alongside species at risk and many are doing great work on their land. Their pledge to protect Ontario’s wildlife inspires and encourages other land owners and farmers to take action to protect species at risk too.
Success Stories: Living with Species at Risk
I like having something unique happening on property that I'm working. Volunteer assistance from local naturalist groups has gone a long way in making improvements that benefit both shrike and pasturing cattle. We need more of that kind of cooperation.
Don Yeomans, Ontario Cattle Farmer
Other Species of Interest
What’s at risk in my area?
What species at risk are in your area and how do they affect you?
Figuring out if you need an authorization, like a permit or an agreement, starts with identifying which protected species are in your area.
Encouraging stewardship first
As stewards of the land, land owners and farmers have the power to help save over 200 species at risk in Ontario from disappearing forever. The Endangered Species Act offers a balanced stewardship approach that enables land owners and farmers to work together towards this goal while supporting their ability to keep working off the land. Find out more about what stewardship can mean for your land activities.
Adapting your operation to help protected species? Find out about our incentive programs.
Want a reason to help protected species? The government recognizes stewardship efforts with tax relief.
All About Authorizations
ESA Permit Tracker
Use this tool to find out the status of permit and agreement applications and issued permits and agreements.
Permits and other authorizations
Some activities that affect species at risk or their habitats may require a specific type of permit or other forms of authorization.
Streamlined Approvals
The Ministry of Natural Resources is streamlining its approvals processes to help Ontarians access these services faster and more efficiently, while continuing to protect and sustainably manage Ontario's natural resources.
Learn more about how this relates to the Endangered Species Act.
Notices
Species scheduled to be reviewed by COSSARO are listed below.
| Taxonomic Group | Common name | Scientific Name | Current SARO List |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxonomic Group | Common name | Scientific Name | Current SARO List |
| Species assessed in January 2013 but report not submitted to Minister | |||
| Amphibians | Eastern Tiger Salamander | Ambystoma tigrinum | Extirpated |
| Birds | Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | N/A |
| Birds | Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | N/A |
| Fishes | American Eel | Anguilla rostrata | Endangered |
| Insects | Mottled Duskywing | Erynnis martialis | N/A |
| Mammals | American Badger | Taxidea taxus | Endangered |
| Mammals | Eastern Small-footed Bat | Myotis leibii | N/A |
| Mammals | Tri-colored Bat | Perimyotis subflavus | N/A |
| Reptiles | Eastern Musk Turtle | Sternotherus odoratus | Threatened |
| Reptiles | Eastern Ribbonsnake | Thamnophis sauritus | Special Concern |
| Reptiles | Massasauga | Sistrurus catenatus | Threatened |
| Reptiles | Northern Map Turtle | Graptemys geographica | Special Concern |
| Vascular Plants | Crooked-stem Aster | Symphyotrichum prenanthoides | Threatened |
| June 4 & 6, 2013 (southwestern Ontario) | |||
| Birds | Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | N/A |
| Birds | Northern Bobwhite | Colinus virginianus | Endangered |
| Fishes | Bridle Shiner | Notropis bifrenatus | Special Concern |
| Fishes | Pugnose Shiner | Notropis anogenus | Endangered |
| Insects | Ashton Cuckoo Bumble Bee | Bombus ashtoni | N/A |
| Mammals | American Badger | Taxidea taxus | Endangered |
| Molluscs | Kidneyshell | Ptychobranchus fasciolaris | Endangered |
| Molluscs | Lilliput | Toxolasma parvum | N/A |
| Molluscs | Round Hickorynut | Obovaria subrotunda | Endangered |
| Molluscs | Threehorn Wartyback | Obliquaria reflexa | N/A |
| Vascular Plants | Slender Bush-clover | Lespedeza virginica | Endangered |
| Winter 2013 | |||
| Birds | Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | N/A |
| Birds | Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | Endangered |
| Birds | Piping Plover | Charadrius melodus | Endangered |
| Fishes | Channel Darter | Percina copelandi | Threatened |
| Fishes | Cutlip Minnow | Exoglossum maxillinqua | Threatened |
| Mammals | Tri-colored Bat | Perimyotis sublavus | N/A |
| Reptiles | Eastern Box Turtle | Terrapene carolina | N/A |
| Reptiles | Spiny Softshell | Apalone spinifera | Threatened |
| Vascular Plants | American Ginseng | Panax quinquefolius | Endangered |
| Vascular Plants | Blue Ash | Fraxinus quadrangulata | Special Concern |
| Vascular Plants | Red Mulberry | Morus rubra | Endangered |
| Vascular Plants | Toothcup | Rotala ramosior | Endangered |
| Summer 2014 | |||
| Lichens | Flooded Jellyskin | Leptogium rivulare | Endangered |
| Mammals | Eastern Wolf | Canis lupus lycaon | Special Concern |
| Mammals | Wolverine | Gulo gulo | Threatened |
| Mammals | Woodland Caribou (Forest-dwelling boreal population) | Rangifer tarandus caribou | Threatened |
| Molluscs | Round Pigtoe | Pleurobema sintoxia | Endangered |
| Mosses | Spoon-leaved Moss | Bryoandersonia illecebra | Endangered |
| Reptiles | Milksnake | Lampropeltis triangulum | Special Concern |
| Vascular Plants | Small White Lady’s-slipper | Cypripedium candidum | Endangered |
| Vascular Plants | Spotted Wintergreen | Chimaphila maculata | Endangered |
| Winter 2014 | |||
| Birds | Red-necked Phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | N/A |
| Lichens | Flooded Jellyskin | Leptogium rivulare | Endangered |
| Reptiles | Spotted Turtle | Clemmys guttata | Endangered |
| Vascular Plants | Hart’s-tongue Fern | Asplenium scolopendrium | Special Concern |
| Assessment Date to be Determined | |||
| Birds | Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | N/A |
| Insects | A Bee Fly | Toxophora amphitea | N/A |
| Insects | Bog Elfin | Callophurys lanoraieensis | N/A |
| Insects | Giant Lacewing | Polystoechotes punctatus | N/A |
| Insects | Lake Huron Locust | Trimerotropis huroniana | N/A |
| Insects | Walsh's Locust | Melanoplus walshii | N/A |
| Vascular Plants | False Northwestern Moonwort | Botrychium pseudopinnatum | N/A |
Table subject to change and will be updated as new information becomes available.
The Environmental Registry contains public notices about environmental matters being proposed by all government ministries covered by the Environmental Bill of Rights. The Registry allows you to participate in decisions that affect the environment.
The following Environmental Registry notices are related to Species at Risk policies:
Participate in the recovery strategy process
The public is invited to review and submit comments on draft recovery strategies for the following species: American Columbo, Bird's-foot Violet, Northern Madtom, Pugnose Shiner, Slender Bush-clover, Virginia Goat's-rue and Willowleaf Aster. Please view Ontario's Environmental Registry (Registry number 011-9442) for more information.
Draft Government Response Statements
The public is invited to submit comments before August 29, 2013 on 10 draft government response statements for 11 species: Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander and Northern Dusky Salamander, American Water-willow, Cherry Birch, Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus, Hine's Emerald, Hungerford's Crawling Water Beetle, Nodding Pogonia, Pygmy Snaketail, Red Mulberry and Wild Hyacinth. Comments should be submitted through the policy proposal notice posted on Ontario's Environmental Registry (#011-7846).
Draft Harm and Harass Policy
The Ministry of Natural Resources has developed draft policy guidance to help assess whether an activity is likely to kill, harm, or harass a species protected under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007. The public is invited to review and submit comments on the document entitled Policy Guidance on Harm and Harass under the Endangered Species Act through the policy proposal notice posted on Ontario's Environmental Registry (search number 011-9405).
Draft Range Management Policy in Support of Woodland Caribou Conservation and Recovery
The public is invited to review and comment on MNR's draft Range Management Policy in support of Woodland Caribou Conservation and Recovery. The draft policy provides direction to conserve and recover caribou in Ontario through the development and implementation of a Range Management Approach. The draft Guidance for Assessing Impacts of Activities on Woodland Caribou and Their Habitat and the draft Integrated Assessment Protocol for Woodland Caribou Ranges in Ontario, support the implementation of the draft Range Management Policy, including the range management approach. Comments should be submitted through the regulation proposal notice posted on July 11th, 2013 on Ontario's Environmental Registry (Registry Number 011-9448.
Finalized Recovery Strategies and Initiating Development of Government Response Statements
On May 31, 2013, final recovery strategies were completed for eleven species: Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark, Butternut, Common Hoptree, Cutlip Minnow, Dwarf Hackberry, Eastern Sand Darter, Hill's Thistle, Lakeside Daisy, Piping Plover and Pitcher's Thistle. The public and Aboriginal communities are invited to review these recovery strategies, and submit comments on the goals and actions that the Government of Ontario should consider committing to in the government response statements. Comments should be submitted through the policy proposal notice posted on Ontario's Environmental Registry (Registry Number 011-9020).
Furthermore, additional time is required to prepare recovery strategies under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (May 31, 2013). To view this notice, please visit Ontario's Environmental Registry (Registry number 011-9048).
Final Government Response Statements
On May 31, 2013, government response statements were completed for six species: American Chestnut, Drooping Trillium, Heart-leaved Plantain, Lake Chubsucker, Large Whorled Pogonia, and Prothonotary Warbler. The government response statements summarize the Government of Ontario's intended actions and priorities in relation to the species' recovery strategies that were published June 15, 2012. Environmental Registry - Registry Number 011-6528.
Draft Habitat Regulations
The public is invited to review and comment on draft habitat regulations for the following six species: Bogbean Buckmoth, Four-leaved Milkweed, Fowler's Toad, Laura's Clubtail, Queensnake and Rusty-patched Bumble Bee and on a proposed habitat regulation amendment for Pale-bellied Frost Lichen. Comments should be submitted through the regulation proposal notice posted on Ontario's Environmental Registry (Registry Number 011-9021).
There are no special notices at this time.
Results from past COSSARO meetings: Status Reports and Evaluations
Species to be reviewed at future COSSARO meetings
All currently listed species at risk
Contact your local ministry office
Often the best source of local information on species at risk is your nearest ministry office. Call with your questions or concerns.
