Yukon species at risk

Biologists estimate that around 100 plant and animal species go extinct every day. There are also many species at risk. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the Wildlife Act are used to identify what species are at risk in Yukon.

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC)

COSEWIC is a national committee that evaluates the status of all wildlife species in Canada and identifies those most at risk. The committee uses the following categories for species at risk.

• Extinct: A species that no longer exists.
• Extirpated: A species that no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but exists elsewhere.
• Endangered: A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
• Threatened: A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.
• Special Concern: A species with characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international wild animal and plant trade doesn't threaten the survival of endangered species. Many mammals, birds and orchids require a special permit to bring them into or out of Canada. Email coservices@gov.yk.ca or phone 867-667-8005 or toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408 ext. 8005 if you have any questions about this.

Yukon Wildlife Act

The Yukon Wildlife Act (Regulations Section 5) lists several species as "specially protected" including:

• Cougar
• Gyrfalcon
• Peregrine Falcon
• Trumpeter Swan

 

These species are listed in Canada's Species at Risk Act in these categories unless otherwise indicated.

Read the Yukon species at risk booklet for more details on individual species.

Endangered species

Dates in brackets are the date the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada last assessed the species. 

Insects

• Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee (Bombus bohemicus) (2014)

Birds

• Eskimo Curlew (2010)

Mammals

• Little Brown Myotis (Little Brown Bat - Myotis lucifugus) (2012)
• Northern Myotis (Northern Long-eared Bat - Myotis septentrionalis) (2012)

Threatened species

Dates in brackets are the date the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada last assessed the species.

Plants

• Alkaline Wing-nerved Moss (Pterygoneurum kozlovii) (2004)

Insects

• Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumble Bee (Bombus suckleyi) (2019, awaiting listing)

Fishes

• European/Lake Whitefish (Dezadeash, Little Teslin, Squanga lakes) (2018, awaiting listing)

Birds

• Bank Swallow (2013)
• Barn Swallow (2011)
• Canada Warbler (2008)
• Common Nighthawk (2018, reassessed as Special Concern)
• Hudsonian Godwit (2019, awaiting listing)
• Olive-sided Flycatcher (2018, reassessed as Special Concern)
• Red Knot (roselaari type) (2007, an accidental species in Yukon)

Mammals

• Caribou (Barren-ground population) (2016, awaiting listing)
• Caribou (Boreal population) (2014)
• Wood Bison (2013, reassessed as Special Concern)

Special Concern species

Dates in brackets are the date the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada last assessed the species.

Plants

• Baikal Sedge (Carex sabulosa) (2016)
• Spiked Saxifrage (Micranthes spicata) (2015)
• Tiny Tassel Moss (Crossidium seriatum) (2014)
• Yukon Draba (Draba yukonensis) (2018, awaiting listing)
• Yukon Podistera (Podistera yukonensis) (2014)
• Yukon Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum flavum var. aquilinum) (2017, awaiting listing)

Insects

• Dune Tachinid Fly (Germania angustata) (2011)
• Transverse Lady Beetle (Coccinella transversoguttata) (2016, awaiting listing)
• Western Bumble Bee mckayi subspecies (Bombus occidentalis mckayi) (2014, awaiting listing)
• Yellow-banded Bumble Bee (Bombus terricola) (2015)

Amphibians

• Western Toad (2012)

Fishes

• Bering Cisco (Coregonus laurettae) (2017, awaiting listing)
• Bull Trout (Western Arctic population) (2012)
• Dolly Varden (Western Arctic population) (2015)

Birds

• Buff-breasted Sandpiper (2012)
• Evening Grosbeak (2016)
• Horned Grebe (2009)
• Peregrine Falcon (2017, reassessed as Not At Risk)
• Red-necked Phalarope (2014)
• Rusty Blackbird (2017)
• Short-eared Owl (2008)

Mammals

• Bowhead Whale (Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population) (2009)
• Caribou (Northern Mountain population) (2014)
• Collared Pika (2011)
• Grizzly Bear (Western population) (2012)
• Polar Bear (2018)
• Ringed Seal (2019 awaiting listing)
• Wolverine (2014)

Species under review

Dates in brackets are the anticipated date the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada will assess the species.

Plants

• Alkaline Wing-nerved Moss (Pterygoneurum kozlovii) (April 2021)

Fishes

• Chum Salmon (November 2022)

Birds

• Barn Swallow (November 2020)
• Canada Warbler (November 2020)
• Killdeer (November 2021)
• Lesser Yellowlegs (November 2020)
• Red Knot roselaari type (November 2020)
• Ruddy Turnstone (November 2021)
• Short-billed Dowitcher (November 2021)
• Short-eared Owl (November 2020)
• Whimbrel (November 2021)

Mammals

• Beluga Whale (Eastern Beaufort Sea population) (November 2020)
• Hoary Bat (November 2021)
• Silver-haired Bat (November 2021)

Data deficient species

Dates in brackets are the date the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada last assessed the species.

• Bearded Seal (April 2007)
• Bull Trout - Upper Yukon Watershed (November 2012)
• Pygmy Whitefish (Southwestern Yukon Beringia populations) (2016)
• Pygmy Whitefish (Yukon River populations) (2016)

Species not at risk in Yukon

Dates in brackets are the date the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada last assessed the species.

Plants

• Narrow-leaved Wallflower (Erysimum angustatum) (April 1993)
• Wood’s Sagebrush (Artemisia rupestris) (April 1997)
• Yukon Aster (Symphyotrichum yukonensis) (April 1996)
• Yukon Goldenweed (Nestotus macleanii) (April 1997)

Amphibians

• Columbia Spotted Frog (May 2000)

Fishes

• Pygmy Whitefish (Pacific populations) (November 2016)
• Spoonhead Sculpin (April 1989)

Birds

• American Coot (April 1991)
• Bald Eagle (April 1984)
• Black Tern (April 1996)
• Boreal Owl (April 1995)
• Caspian Tern (April 1999)
• Common Loon (April 1997)
• Double-crested Cormorant (April 1978)
• Golden Eagle (April 1996)
• Great Grey Owl (April 1996)
• Gyrfalcon (April 1987)
• Merlin (April 1985)
• Northern Goshawk atricapillus subspecies (April 1995)
• Northern Harrier (April 1993)
• Northern Hawk Owl (April 1992)
• Red-necked Grebe (April 1982)
• Red-tailed Hawk (April 1995)
• Rough-legged Hawk (April 1995)
• Sharp-shinned Hawk (April 1997)
• Snowy Owl (April 1995)
• Trumpeter Swan (April 1996)
• Yellow-billed Loon (1997)

Mammals

• American Black Bear (April 1999)
• Beluga – Eastern Beaufort Sea Population (May 2004)
• Canada Lynx (May 2001)
• Grey Whale (Eastern North Pacific population) (2017)
• Northern Grey Wolf (April 1999)