Prairie skink (Eumeces septentrionalis) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 10
Existing Protection or Other Status
Globally, the Prairie Skink does not have any ranking according to the IUCN Red Book. The Global Heritage Status Rank for the Prairie Skink is G5, indicating that the species is widespread and abundant (NatureServe Explorer 2002). The National Heritage Status Rank is N5 for the US and N2 for Canada. COSEWIC status was Special Concern in 1989 (Bredin 1989). Within Manitoba, the Prairie Skink is ranked S2, very rare. It is not listed under the Manitoba Endangered Species Act, but this legislation only covers species designated Threatened or Endangered. The Manitoba Endangered Species Advisory Committee recommended the Prairie Skink be noted as “Vulnerable” several years ago (J. Duncan, pers. comm. 2003). This skink is covered by the provincial Wildlife Act, which regulates human use of wildlife. Activities involving Prairie Skinks (from research to collecting) are prohibited without a permit. The species occurs on federal lands in the Department of Natural Defence, CFB Shilo. Across the range, it is ranked S1 in Louisiana, S2/S3 in North Dakota, S3 in Iowa, S4 in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, S5 in Nebraska, South Dakota and Texas, and S? in Arkansas, Minnesota and Missouri (NatureServe Explorer 2002).