NWT SPECIES ON THE COSEWIC LIST

FACT SHEETS

The status of these species was determined by the Committee On the Status of Endangered Species in Canada (COSEWIC). For more information on status assessment go directly to the COSEWIC website or view the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) here.   To assess species at risk, COSEWIC evaluates the best available information relevant to assessing a species' risk of extinction or extirpation, which it may obtain from any credible source of knowledge of the species and its habitat.  The evaluation process is independent, open and transparent.

Some species in the NWT are legally listed under the Species at Risk Act, federal legislation for the protection of species at risk in Canada. For more information on SARA go directly to the SARA Registry website. 

A guide to NWT species legally listed under the federal Species at Risk Act and those assessed by COSEWIC and under consideration for listing is available here. (PDF = 6576 KB)

As of November 2007 the following NWT species were assessed by COSEWIC as being at some level of risk. The date of latest COSEWIC assessment is provided for each species.

MAMMALS

Endangered

Peary Caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) - 2004

Threatened

Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) - 2000
Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou): Boreal population - 2002

Special Concern

Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) - 2002
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) - 2008

Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou): Northern Mountain population - 2002
Wolverine (Gulo gulo): Western population - 2003
Dolphin-Union Caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus x pearyi) - 2004

Endangered

Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) - 2000
Whooping Crane (Grus americana) - 2000
Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) – 2006
Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa): Rufa subspecies - 2007

Threatened

Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) - 2007
Olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) - 2007
Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) - 2008

Special Concern

          Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) - 2008
          Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) - 2001
          Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) - 2006
          Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum-tundrius complex) - 2007
          Red Knot (Calidris canutus islandica): Islandica subspecies  - 2007

AMPHIBIANS

Special Concern

Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens): Prairie and Western Boreal Populations - 2002

Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas) - 2002

FISH AND MARINE MAMMALS

Threatened

         Northern Wolffish (Anarhichas denticulatus) - 2001
         Shortjaw Cisco (Coregonus zenithicus) - 2003

Special Concern

Grey Whale (Eschrichtius robustus): Northeast Pacific Population - 2004
Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus): Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Sea population  2005

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       Site last updated Tuesday, February 19, 2008