Townsend's mole (Scapanus townsendii) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 1

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COSEWIC Assessment Summary

Assessment Summary – May 2003

Common name : Townsend’s mole

Scientific name : Scapanus townsendii

Status : Endangered

Reason for designation : There are only about 450 mature individuals in a single Canadian population with a range of 13 km², adjacent to a small area of occupied habitat in the USA. Threats to the population include trapping by pest removal companies and property owners. The habitat has been degraded through fragmentation and urbanization. There is no evidence of decline over the last 10 years. It is uncertain whether immigration across the international border may rescue the Canadian population.

Occurrence : British Columbia

Status history : Designated Threatened in April 1996. Status re-examined and uplisted to Endangered in May 2003. Last assessment was based on an update status report.