Species at risk

Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site is home to a number of species that are protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). This act is a commitment by the federal government to protect declining species that are at risk of disappearing entirely from Canada if nothing is done to rectify the situation. As required by SARA, action plans establish measures to protect species at risk in all national parks and historic sites. For example, the Mauricie and Western Quebec Field Unit (MWQFU), which covers Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site, has developed a species at risk action plan that includes some actions specific to this site. You can consult the action plan by following this link.

Species at risk are categorized into three statuses..

• Endangered species face imminent extinction.
• Threatened species are likely to become endangered if the factors affecting them are not reversed.
• Species of special concern are those that could become threatened as a result of the cumulative effect of the threats they are exposed to.

Species at risk profile

Monarch

The bright orange wings of the monarch make it a memorable and famous insect. Beyond its beautiful color, it plays an essential role as a pollinator and is vital to healthy ecosystems. It is fond of milkweed, a plant that provides deadly toxicity thus offering valuable protection against predators. The monarch is a small butterfly that is not afraid of long trips! To spend the winter in Mexico, it must travel more than 3000 kilometers in approximately 45 days. It is one of the longest migrations known in the world for a creature measuring more or less 10 centimeters.

Over the past decade, dramatic drops have been noted in the monarch's population, mainly due to loss of habitat. In order to contribute to its preservation, the Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site has created a monarch garden. Learn more about the project by clicking here!

Silver lamprey

With it’s sucking disc mouth this parasitic lamprey looks like something out of a science fiction story! Silver Lamprey parasitize many different host fish species, attaching themselves with their sucking disc mouth, and feed on flesh and body fluids for one to two years. It is shaped like an eel and an adult range in size from 31 to 39 centimeters. The species is designated as a concern because of threats like river pollution and large fluctuations in water levels related to climate change and the management of certain dams.