Ord’s kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 1

Assessment Summary – April 2006

Common name:
Ord's Kangaroo Rat

Scientific name:
Dipodomys Ordii

Status:
Endangered

Reason for designation:
The species requires sand dune habitat, which may disappear over the short term (10 years). The area of occupancy is only about 53 km² and only 1000 or fewer individuals are alive at the end of most winters. There is strong evidence for local adaptations of the Canadian population and a rescue effect is extremely unlikely because the nearest population in the United States is 270 km away.

Occurrence:
Alberta, Saskatchewan

Status history:
Designated Special Concern in April 1995. Status re-examined and designated Endangered in April 2006. Last assessment based on an update status report.