Part 2: The List of species eligible for an amendment to schedule 1: December 2022
The list of species eligible for an amendment to schedule 1
Status of the recently assessed species and consultation paths
On November 2, 2022, COSEWIC submitted 18 assessments of species at risk to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change for species that are eligible to be added to Schedule 1 of SARA. Nine of these are terrestrial species, and nine are aquatic species. COSEWIC also reviewed the classification of species already on Schedule 1, in some cases changing their status. Eight terrestrial species are being considered for a lower risk status on SARA. One species is being considered to be removed from SARA. In all, 18 terrestrial species that are eligible to be added to Schedule 1, or to have their current status on Schedule 1 changed are included in this consultation (Table 1).
COSEWIC also submitted the reviews of species already on Schedule 1, confirming their classification. Eleven of these reviews were for terrestrial species. These species are not included in the consultations because there is no regulatory change being proposed (Table 2).
For more information on the consultations for aquatic species, visit the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).
Providing comments
The involvement of Canadians is integral to the listing process, as it is to the ultimate protection of Canadian wildlife. Your comments matter and are given serious consideration. Environment and Climate Change Canada will review all the comments that it receives by the deadlines provided below.
Comments for terrestrial species undergoing normal consultations must be received by May 31, 2023.
Comments for terrestrial species undergoing extended consultations must be received by October 31, 2023.
Most species will be undergoing normal consultations. For a description of the consultation paths these species will undergo, please visit the Species at Risk (SAR) Public Registry website at: The Minister of the Environment's Response to Species at Risk Assessments
For more details on submitting comments, see the section “Comments solicited on the proposed amendment of Schedule 1” in the document entitled “Consultation on Amending the List of Species under the Species at Risk Act: Terrestrial Species”.
Please email your comments to the Species at Risk Public Registry at: sararegistry@ec.gc.ca
Comments may also be mailed to:
Director General, Wildlife Management
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
For more information on the Species at Risk Act, please visit the Species at Risk Public Registry at: Species at risk public registry
Table 1: Terrestrial species recently assessed by COSEWIC eligible for addition to Schedule 1, reclassification or removal from the List
Category |
Category |
Taxon |
Species |
Scientific name |
Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Species eligible for addition to schedule 1 |
Endangered |
Arthropods |
Vancouver Island Shieldback |
Steiroxys strepens |
BC |
Species eligible for addition to schedule 1 |
Endangered |
Vascular Plants |
Meadow Thistle (Mingan population) |
Cirsium scariosum |
QC |
Species eligible for addition to schedule 1 |
Endangered |
Vascular Plants |
Meadow Thistle (Rocky Mountain population) |
Cirsium scariosum |
BC, AB |
Species eligible for addition to schedule 1 |
Endangered |
Vascular Plants |
Pumpkin Ash |
Fraxinus profunda |
ON |
Species eligible for addition to schedule 1 |
Threatened |
Arthropods |
Northern Oak Hairstreak |
Satyrium favonius ontario |
ON |
Species eligible for addition to schedule 1 |
Threatened |
Reptiles |
Sharp–tailed Snake (Pacific Coast population)Footnote 1 |
Contia tenuis |
BC |
Species eligible for addition to schedule 1 |
Special concern |
Arthropods |
Dukes’ Skipper |
Euphyes dukesi |
ON |
Species eligible for addition to schedule 1 |
Special concern |
Arthropods |
Johnson’s Hairstreak |
Callophrys johnsoni |
BC |
Species eligible for addition to schedule 1 |
Special concern |
Vascular Plants |
Dense Draba |
Draba pycnosperma |
QC, NL |
Reclassifications: up-list, down-list |
From endangered to threatened |
Arthropods |
Dusky Dune Moth |
Copablepharon longipenne |
AB, SK, MB |
Reclassifications: up-list, down-list |
From endangered to threatened |
Reptiles |
Eastern Foxsnake (Carolinian population) |
Pantherophis vulpinus |
ON |
Reclassifications: up-list, down-list |
From endangered to threatened |
Reptiles |
Eastern Foxsnake (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population) |
Pantherophis vulpinus |
ON |
From endangered to special concern |
From endangered to special concern |
Arthropods |
Skillet Clubtail |
Gomphurus ventricosus |
ON, QC, NB, NS |
From threatened to special concern |
From threatened to special concern |
Birds |
Bobolink |
Dolichonyx oryzivorus |
BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PEI, NL |
From threatened to special concern |
From threatened to special concern |
Mammals |
American Marten (Newfoundland population) |
Martes americana atrata |
NL |
From threatened to special concern |
From threatened to special concern |
Vascular Plants |
Eastern False Rue-anemoneFootnote 2 |
Enemion biternatum |
ON |
From threatened to special concern |
From threatened to special concern |
Vascular Plants |
Victorin’s Gentian |
Gentianopsis virgata subsp. victorinii |
QC |
Reclassifications: removal from schedule 1 |
From threatened to not at risk |
Lichens |
Seaside Bone Lichen |
Hypogymnia heterophylla |
BC |
Table 2: Terrestrial species recently reassessed by COSEWIC (no consultations species status confirmation)
Category |
Category |
Taxon |
Species |
Scientific name |
Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Status confirmations |
Extirpated |
Birds |
Greater Prairie–Chicken |
Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus |
AB, SK, MB, ON |
Status confirmations |
Extirpated |
Birds |
Greater Sage-Grouse phaios subspecies |
Centrocercus urophasianus phaios |
BC |
Status confirmations |
Extirpated |
Mammals |
Black–footed Ferret |
Mustela nigripes |
AB, SK |
Status confirmations |
Extirpated |
Mosses |
Incurved Grizzled Moss |
Ptychomitrium incurvum |
ON |
Status confirmations |
Endangered |
Amphibians |
Northern Leopard Frog (Rocky Mountain population) |
Lithobates pipiens |
BC |
Status confirmations |
Endangered |
Birds |
Greater Sage-Grouse urophasianus subspecies |
Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus |
AB, SK |
Status confirmations |
Endangered |
Birds |
Mountain Plover |
Charadrius montanus |
AB, SK |
Status confirmations |
Endangered |
Birds |
Sage Thrasher |
Oreoscoptes montanus |
BC, AB, SK |
Status confirmations |
Endangered |
Reptiles |
Sharp-tailed Snake (Coast Mountains population)Footnote 3 |
Contia tenuis |
BC |
Status confirmations |
Special concern |
Molluscs |
Threaded Vertigo |
Vertigo rowelliiFootnote 4 |
BC |
Status confirmations |
Special concern |
Vascular Plants |
Victorin's Water-hemlock |
Cicuta maculata var. victorinii |
QC |
The COSEWIC summaries of terrestrial species eligible for addition or reclassification on schedule 1
For a brief summary of the reasons for the COSEWIC status designation of individual species, and their biology, threats, distribution and other information, please consult the COSEWIC Summaries of Terrestrial Species Eligible for Addition or Reclassification on Schedule 1 at: Consultation on Amending the List of Species under the Species at Risk Act
For a more comprehensive explanation of the conservation status of an individual species, please refer to the COSEWIC status report for that species, also available on the SAR Public Registry at: Status reports
or contact:
COSEWIC Secretariat
c/o Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3