Species at risk
Sable Island National Park Reserve
The Ipswich Sparrow, Sable Island Sweat Bee, Roseate Tern, and Barn Swallow are all species at risk at Sable Island National Park Reserve. Species at risk are animals or plants that are in danger of extinction or disappearance and are protected by the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
Ipswich Sparrow – Special Concern species
Ipswich Sparrows breed exclusively at Sable Island National Park Reserve. They are categorized as Special Concern because they are vulnerable to any change in the environment.
Parks Canada is monitoring the population and implementing recovery actions such as studying the migration of the Ipswich Sparrow.
Sable Island Sweat Bee – Threatened species
Sable Island National Park Reserve is the only place in the world where this species of sweat bee is found. They are characterised as Threatened because of their small geographic distribution.
Parks Canada is addressing key knowledge gaps in the recovery strategy for the Sable Island Sweat Bee.
Roseate Tern – Endangered species
A small number of breeding pairs of Roseate Terns nest at Sable Island National Park Reserve. The initial decline in their worldwide population size was likely because of exploitation for their plumage.
Parks Canada monitors the Roseate Tern population and reports on progress towards recovery and management initiatives.
Parks Canada is also testing methods to improve breeding habitat for Roseate Terns, in collaboration with the Sable Island Institute and the Canadian Wildlife Service.
Barn Swallow – Threatened species
Barn Swallows and their nests have been observed over the years on Sable Island National Park Reserve. Although adults are regularly seen, no nests have been found recently. It is unclear if there is still a breeding population on the island.
The magnitude of decline in number and geographic extent across Canada is of concern. The cause for this decline is not well understood.
Atlantic Walrus (Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Gulf of St. Lawrence population) – Extirpated species no longer on Sable Island
The Atlantic Walrus species is no longer present at Sable Island National Park Reserve because of the uncontrolled harvesting of individuals for their prized tusks.
Today, walrus skeletal remains (tusks, skulls, and lower jaws) uncover themselves in the shifting sands of Sable Island.
Species at Risk Act (SARA)
The Species at Risk Act (SARA) provides legal protection for species under different categories of extinction risk. When a species is listed under any of these categories this means that measures are being taken to protect and restore their populations.
Categories of extinction risk
Special Concern species
A wildlife species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.
Threatened species
A wildlife species that is likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction.
Endangered species
A wildlife species that is facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
Extirpated species
A wildlife species that no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but exists elsewhere.
Extinct species
A wildlife species that no longer exists.
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