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 the 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 [email protected] or phone 867-667-8005 or toll free in the Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 8005 if you have any questions.
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 the following categories unless we indicate otherwise.
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
- Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis) (2023 awaiting listing)
- Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) (2023 awaiting listing)
- Little Brown Myotis (Little Brown Bat – Myotis lucifugus) (2012)
- Northern Myotis (Northern Long-eared Bat – Myotis septentrionalis) (2012)
- Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) (2023 awaiting listing)
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 or Lake Whitefish (Dezadeash, Little Teslin, Squanga lakes) (2018, awaiting listing)
Birds
- Bank Swallow (2013)
- Barn Swallow (2011, reassessed as Special Concern)
- Canada Warbler (2020, reassessed as Special Concern)
- Hudsonian Godwit (2019, awaiting listing)
- Lesser Yellowlegs (2020, awaiting listing)
- Red Knot (roselaari type) (2020, an accidental species in the 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 (Crossidium seriatum) (2014)
- Yukon Draba (Draba yukonensis) (2018, awaiting listing)
- Yukon Podistera (Podistera yukonensis) (2014)
- Yukon Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum flavum var. aquilinum) (2017)
Insects
- Dune Tachinid Fly (Germania angustata) (2011)
- Transverse Lady Beetle (Coccinella transversoguttata) (2016)
- Western Bumble Bee mckayi subspecies (Bombus occidentalis mckayi) (2023)
- 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)
- Common Nighthawk (2018)
- Evening Grosbeak (2016)
- Horned Grebe (2023)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher (2018)
- Red-necked Phalarope (2014)
- Rusty Blackbird (2017)
- Short-eared Owl (2021, reassessed as Threatened)
Mammals
- Bowhead Whale (Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population) (2009)
- Caribou (Northern Mountain population) (2005)
- Collared Pika (2011)
- Grizzly Bear (Western population) (2012)
- Polar Bear (2018)
- Ringed Seal (2019 awaiting listing)
- Wolverine (2014)
Species under review
COSEWIC meets twice per year to discuss and evaluate the status of wildlife species in Canada. To review upcoming wildlife species assessments, consult the COSEWIC status reports in preparation.
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 the 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)
- Peregrine Falcon (2017)
- 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)