CHANGES TO SPECIES AT RISK LIST IN ONTARIO

For Immediate Release
February 24, 2009

CHANGES TO SPECIES AT RISK LIST IN ONTARIO
Backgrounder

The Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario is responsible for classifying species at risk based on established criteria.  The independent committee of scientific experts may at any time submit a report to the Minister of Natural Resources regarding species that have been assessed and classified.

Acting on a report from the committee received in November 2008, the Ministry of Natural Resources is proceeding with the following amendments:

Species to be added to the Species at Risk in Ontario list:

• Eastern Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) – Endangered
• Ogden’s Pondweed (Potamogeton ogdenii) – Endangered
• Eastern Pondmussel (Ligumia nasuta) – Endangered
• Red Knot rufa subspecies (Calidris canutus rufa) – Endangered

Species to be re-classified on the Species at Risk in Ontario list:

• Karner Blue (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) – from Endangered to Extirpated
• Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) – from Endangered to Extirpated
• Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus) – from Threatened to Endangered
• American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) – from Endangered to Threatened

Species to be removed from the Species at Risk in Ontario list:

• Black Buffalo (Ictiobus niger) – currently listed as Special Concern, changed to Data Deficient
• Orangespotted Sunfish (Lepomis humilis) – currently listed as Special Concern, but determined to be not eligible

Under the provisions of the  Endangered Species Act, 2007, the habitat of species newly listed as, or changed, to endangered or threatened is automatically protected once the amended regulation is filed.

In addition, the act requires that recovery strategies be prepared within one or two years depending on whether a species is listed as endangered or threatened.

For More Information

Jason Travers, Species at Risk, 705-755-1754

General Enquiries

Natural Resources Information Centre
1-800-667-1940
TTY 1-866-686-6072 (Hearing Impaired)