COSEWIC wildlife species assessments (detailed version), December 2025

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Results are grouped by taxon and then by status category. The range of occurrence in Canada (by province, territory or ocean) and history of status designation are provided for each wildlife species.

Mammals

  • Scientific name: Taxidea taxus
    Status: Endangered
    Assessment criteria: C2a(i); D1
    Reason for designation: The abundance of this distinct population of large weasel is thought to be fewer than 250 mature individuals that are distributed over a broad area that includes the Cariboo, Thompson-Nicola, and Okanagan regions of British Columbia. Expert knowledge suggests that the population is in decline, and it is vulnerable to mortality from collisions with vehicles, protection of livestock and property, and habitat loss due to housing development. The species exists in small disjunct areas, and these subpopulations are vulnerable to stochastic environmental, demographic, and genetic effects that could threaten persistence.
    Range: British Columbia
    Status history: The species was considered a single unit and designated Not at Risk in 1979. Each subspecies was given a separate designation in May 2000; the jeffersonii subspecies was designated Endangered. In November 2012, the jeffersonii subspecies was further split into two populations (Western and Eastern populations), and the Western population was designated Endangered. Status re-examined and confirmed in December 2025. The jeffersonii subspecies Western population is now referred to as the Cariboo / Thompson / Okanagan population.

  • Scientific name: Taxidea taxus
    Status: Endangered
    Assessment criteria: D1
    Reason for designation: This distinct population of large weasel is found only in southwestern Ontario. The population is small and at risk of extinction. Although there is no empirical estimate of abundance, experts suggest that there are fewer than 200 mature individuals found across landscapes with a high density of human activities. Threats, such as agriculture, housing, and road mortality, continue or are increasing.
    Range: Ontario
    Status history: The species was considered a single unit and designated Not at Risk in 1979. Each subspecies was given a separate designation in May 2000. The jacksoni subspecies was designated Endangered. Status re-examined and confirmed in November 2012 and in December 2025. The jacksoni subspecies is now referred to as the Southwestern Ontario population.

  • Scientific name: Taxidea taxus
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This distinct population of large weasel is found across an extensive area that ranges from eastern British Columbia to northwestern Ontario. There is no precise population estimate for this newly defined population, but it is thought to be relatively large (>10,000 mature individuals) and expert knowledge suggests it is stable. However, the population is vulnerable to mortality from collisions with vehicles, protection of livestock and property, and agricultural intensification. If the threats increase or are not managed effectively, the population could become Threatened.
    Range: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario
    Status history: The species was considered a single unit and designated Not at Risk in 1979. Each subspecies was given a separate designation in May 2000; the jeffersonii subspecies was designated Endangered. In November 2012, the jeffersonii subspecies was further split into two populations (Western and Eastern populations), and the Eastern population was designated Endangered. In December 2025, the species was re–examined and the jeffersonii subspecies, Eastern population and the taxus subspecies were considered a single unit (Kootenay / Plains / Rainy River population) that was designated Special Concern in December 2025. The original jeffersonii subspecies (Eastern population) and original taxus subspecies were de–activated.

  • Scientific name: Ursus arctos
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This large-bodied omnivore is culturally important for Indigenous peoples, but has been extirpated from much of North America. Although abundance of the species is uncertain, the Canadian population is estimated at approximately 12,490–13,447 individuals. Over the past three generations, there is no evidence of a range-wide decline. Distribution varies regionally, with some range expansion throughout northern (Nunavut) and eastern Canada (Saskatchewan, Manitoba), and infilling in portions of the range that were previously extirpated (British Columbia). The species is a habitat generalist, but population growth is constrained by a low reproductive rate and habitat productivity. Some Indigenous communities have expressed concern about the conservation of the species following historical declines or extirpation across parts of southern Canada. The primary causes of past and potentially future decline are human-caused mortality, habitat loss, and changes in food availability. Given the life-history traits of the species, decline could occur if there is an increase in mortality from human-bear conflict or vehicle collision.
    Range: Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
    Status history: The species was considered a single unit and designated Not at Risk in April 1979. Split into two populations in April 1991 (Prairie population and Northwestern population). The Prairie population was designated Extirpated in April 1991. Status re-examined and confirmed in May 2000 and in May 2002. The Northwestern population was designated Special Concern in April 1991 and confirmed in May 2002. In May 2012, the entire species was re-examined and the Prairie and Northwestern populations were considered a single unit. This newly-defined Western population was designated Special Concern in May 2012. Status re-examined and confirmed in December 2025.

Fishes

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Endangered
    Assessment criteria: A2bce; C2a(i); D1
    Reason for designation: This population once spawned in 32 tributary rivers to the inner Bay of Fundy, from east of the Saint John River to east of the Gaspereau River in Nova Scotia; however, spawning no longer occurs in most rivers. There is an inferred decline of 77% for mature individuals over the past three generations. The overall threat impact is assessed as High due to problematic native species, introduced genetic material, pollution, and climate change.
    Range: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species designated Endangered in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, the Gaspereau River was removed from the Inner Bay of Fundy population, original designation and included in the new Outer Bay of Fundy population. The new Inner Bay of Fundy population was designated Endangered. The original unit called “Inner Bay of Fundy population, original designation” was deactivated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Endangered
    Assessment criteria: A2bce
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers on the southeast coast of Nova Scotia from approximately Hartlen Point to Canso Island and has experienced a 81% decline of mature individuals over the past three generations. However, there has been no adult monitoring since 2011 due to low adult abundance. The overall threat impact is assessed as High due to problematic native species, introduced genetic material, pollution, and climate change.
    Range: Nova Scotia, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species considered a single unit (Nova Scotia Southern Upland population) and designated Endangered in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, the original population was split into two distinct populations; Nova Scotia Southern Upland East population, and Nova Scotia Southern Upland West population. The Nova Scotia Southern Upland East population was designated Endangered. The original designation was de-activated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Endangered
    Assessment criteria: A2bce
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers of the southwest coast of Nova Scotia and into the Bay of Fundy as far as Cape Split. This population is experiencing continuing decline, with 56% decline of mature individuals over the past three generations. The overall threat impact is assessed as Very High-High due to problematic native species; introduced genetic material; air pollution (e.g., acidification of streams), and climate change.
    Range: Nova Scotia, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species considered a single unit (Nova Scotia Southern Upland population) and designated Endangered in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, the original population was split into two distinct populations: the Nova Scotia Southern Upland East population and the Nova Scotia Southern Upland West population. The Nova Scotia Southern Upland West population was designated Endangered. The original designation was de-activated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Endangered
    Assessment criteria: A2bcde
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in tributary rivers to the New Brunswick side of the Bay of Fundy, from the U.S. border to the Saint John River, as well as the Gaspereau River in Nova Scotia. This population is experiencing a continuing decline, with an inferred decline of 68% for mature individuals over the past three generations. The overall threat impact is assessed as Very High – High due to dams and water management, invasive species, problematic native species, introduced genetic material, pollution, and climate change.
    Range: New Brunswick, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species designated Endangered in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, the Gaspereau River was removed from the Inner Bay of Fundy population, original designation and included in the new Outer Bay of Fundy population. The new Outer Bay of Fundy population was designated Endangered. The original unit called “Outer Bay of Fundy population, original designation” was deactivated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Endangered
    Assessment criteria: A2bde
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers from west of the Burin Peninsula to the southwestern tip of Newfoundland. An inferred decrease of 66% of mature individuals has occurred over the last three generations. Coincident declines of more than 90% in spawners and eggs per spawner was seen in monitored rivers. Overall threat impact is estimated as High (parasite transmission from aquaculture; introduced genetic material; marine and recreational fishing).
    Range: Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species considered a single unit (South Newfoundland population) and designated Threatened in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, the original DU was split into two distinct populations: South Newfoundland East, and South Newfoundland West population. The South Newfoundland West population was designated Endangered. The original designation was de-activated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Endangered
    Assessment criteria: A2bde
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in a large number of rivers in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and Cape Breton Island, that drain into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Bras d’Or Lakes, and the Atlantic Ocean. This population is experiencing continuing decline with a 58% decline of mature individuals over the past three generations. Threat impact is assessed as High-Medium with fisheries, introduced non-native species, problematic native species, marine aquaculture, and climate change contributing to the decline.
    Range: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species designated Endangered in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, a separate Gaspé Peninsula population for the Gaspé Peninsula rivers was created and the remaining southern Gulf of St. Lawrence rivers were combined with those of Eastern Cape Breton population to form the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and Cape Breton population. The Southern Gulf of St-Lawrence and Cape Breton population was designated Endangered. The original designation was de-activated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Threatened
    Assessment criteria: A2bd; C2a(i)
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in 24 rivers situated entirely on Anticosti Island Quebec, in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Based on abundance estimates, a 45% decline in mature individuals over the past three generations is inferred. The population is small (~ 2600 mature individuals) and the overall threat impact is assessed as Low.
    Range: Quebec, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Designated Endangered in November 2010. Status re-examined and designated Threatened in December 2025.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Threatened
    Assessment criteria: A2bde; C2a(i)
    Reason for designation: This highly monitored population spawns in tributary rivers to the St. Lawrence River, upstream from the Des Escoumins River (excluded) on the north shore and the Ouelle River (included) on the south shore. A 43% decline in mature individuals over the past three generations is inferred. The population is small (~2500 mature individuals) and the overall threat impact is assessed as Medium (fisheries, introduced genetic material, pollution, and climate change). The rivers in this area are close to the largest urban areas in Quebec and poor marine survival related to substantial changes in marine ecosystems is a concern.
    Range: Quebec, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species designated Special Concern in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, revision of the boundary with the Inner St. Lawrence population, original designation resulted in removal of extra rivers from the Inner St. Lawrence population, original designation. The new Inner St. Lawrence population was designated Threatened. The original unit called “Inner St. Lawrence population, original designation” was deactivated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Threatened
    Assessment criteria: A2bde
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River from the Natashquan River (inclusive) to the Des Escoumins River in the west (inclusive). A 36% decline in mature individuals over the past three generations is inferred from abundance estimates, with an overall threat impact assessed as Low.
    Range: Quebec, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species designated Special Concern in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, individuals from De la Corneille River were included in the Quebec Eastern North Shore population and revision of the boundary with the Inner St. Lawrence population, original designation, resulted in addition of extra rivers from the new Quebec Western North Shore population and designated Threatened. The original unit called “Quebec Western North Shore population, original designation” was deactivated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Threatened
    Assessment criteria: A2bd
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers along the Atlantic coast of Labrador and southwest along the Quebec coast to the Napetipi River. Freshwater habitats remain largely pristine. Abundance data are not available for most rivers; however, for rivers for which data are available, the number of mature individuals is inferred to have decreased by 46% over the last three generations. Overall threat impact is Medium-Low (harvest of large salmon).
    Range: Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species considered a single unit (Labrador population) and designated Not at Risk in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, the original DU was split into three distinct DUs: Northern Labrador population, Labrador Lake Melville population, and Southern Labrador population. The original designation was de-activated and the Southern Labrador population was designated Threatened.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: Additional data and new evidence resulted in the sub-division of the previous population into the Gaspé Peninsula population and the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence/Cape Breton population. There is no significant decline in abundance for the entire population over the past three generations, however declines have been observed since 2013. Overall abundance is above 10,000 adults but spawning is concentrated (>50%) in a single river system. The overall threat impact was assessed as Medium-Low, with increasing temperatures associated with climate change being one of the threats.
    Range: Quebec, New Brunswick, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species designated Special Concern in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, a new Gaspé Peninsula population for the Gaspé Peninsula rivers was created and the remaining southern Gulf of St. Lawrence rivers were combined with those of Eastern Cape Breton population to form the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and Cape Breton population. The Gaspé Peninsula population was designated Special Concern. The original designation was de-activated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River estuary from the Napetipi River (exclusive) westward to the Kegaska River (inclusive). Decline of the population by 26% over the past three generations is inferred with an overall Low threat impact.
    Range: Quebec, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species designated Special Concern in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, individuals from De la Corneille River, previously in the Quebec Western North Shore population, original designation were included in the new Quebec Eastern North Shore population and designated Special Concern. The original unit called “Quebec Eastern North Shore population, original designation” was deactivated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers from the southeast tip of the Avalon Peninsula, westward along the south coast of Newfoundland to the Burin Peninsula. While there is no inferred change in the number of mature individuals in the entire population over the last three generations, there was a decrease of 69% for the single monitored river. The probability of at least a 30% decline for the species is only 3% although the one monitored river showed a decline in smolt output and egg to smolt survival. In combination with low marine survival, further decreases in population abundance are expected. Overall threat is estimated as Medium-Low (problematic native species and diseases).
    Range: Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species considered a single unit (South Newfoundland population) and designated Threatened in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, the original population was split into two distinct populations: South Newfoundland East, and South Newfoundland West population. The South Newfoundland East population was designated Special Concern. The original designation was de-activated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Not at Risk
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers along the northeast coast of Newfoundland to the southeastern corner of the Avalon Peninsula. Available data infer an increase of 46% in number of mature individuals over the last three generations. Overall threat impact is estimated as Low.
    Range: Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species designated Not at Risk in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, population boundary was revised, resulting in a new population (Northeast Newfoundland population), and designated Not at Risk. The original unit called “Northeast Newfoundland population, original designation” was deactivated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Not at Risk
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers along the Atlantic coast of Labrador. Freshwater habitats remain largely pristine. Some of the salmon undertake long distance marine migrations that extend to the coastal waters of West Greenland. Population size is unknown but the index of abundance shows an inferred increase of 256% over the last three generations. Overall threat impact is estimated as Low.
    Range: Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species considered a single unit (Labrador population) and designated Not at Risk in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, the original population was split into three distinct populations: Northern Labrador population, Labrador Lake Melville population, and Southern Labrador population. The original designation was de-activated, and the Northern Labrador population was designated Not at Risk.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Not at Risk
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers and streams on the west coast of Newfoundland from approximately 49°24’ N, 58°15’ W, northeasterly around the tip of the Northern Peninsula. There is no inferred change in number of mature individuals over the last three generations and the overall abundance is estimated to be >50000 adults. The overall threat impact is estimated as Low.
    Range: Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species designated Not at Risk in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, population boundary was revised, resulting in the new Northwest Newfoundland population, designated Not at Risk. The original unit called “Northwest Newfoundland population, original designation” was deactivated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Not at Risk
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers flowing into Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay. It is the northernmost population of the species in North America, and the westernmost population of the entire species. It is separated by approximately 650 km from the nearest population to the south. Actual population size is not known but the estimated abundance shows an inferred increase of 107% over the last three generations. Overall threat impact is estimated as Low.
    Range: Quebec, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species considered in November 2010 and placed in the Data Deficient category. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, the Nastapoka River was removed from the DU defined in COSEWIC (2010), and the new Nunavik population was designated Not at Risk. The original unit called “Nunavik population, original designation” was deactivated.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Not at Risk
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers from Cape Ray northwards along the west coast of Newfoundland, to approximately 49°24’ N, 58°15’ W. An inferred three generation decline of mature individuals of only 4% is well above levels of concern. Overall threat impact is estimated as Low.
    Range: Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Designated Not at Risk in November 2010. Status re-examined and confirmed in December 2025.

  • Scientific name: Salmo salar
    Status: Data Deficient
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This population spawns in rivers within an extended estuary along the Atlantic coast of Labrador. Freshwater habitats remain largely pristine. Some salmon from this population undertake long distance marine migrations that extend to the coastal waters of West Greenland. Population size is not known. Overall threat impact is estimated as Unknown.
    Range: Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Species considered a single unit (Labrador population) and designated Not at Risk in November 2010. Following the Designatable Unit report on Atlantic Salmon (COSEWIC 2022), a new population structure was proposed and accepted by COSEWIC. In December 2025, the original DU was split into three distinct DUs: Northern Labrador population, Labrador Lake Melville population, and Southern Labrador population. The original designation was de-activated and the Labrador Lake Melville population was placed in the Data Deficient category.

Arthropods

  • Scientific name: Anacampsis lupinella
    Status: Threatened
    Assessment criteria: B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
    Reason for designation: This small moth has a Canadian range in southern Ontario where it is known from eight sites from Toronto south to Windsor. It is restricted to habitats with well-drained sandy soils such as savanna, prairie, woodland, and sand barrens, where its larval hostplant, Sundial Lupine, is present. Such habitats were once much more widespread in southern Ontario but are now rare and patchy and are threatened by long-term fire suppression, invasive species and human disturbance. All sites where the moth is found are actively managed for fire suppression; however, the multiple threats in this region of Canada with high human population density may cause these moth populations to decrease in the future.
    Range: Ontario
    Status history: Designated Threatened in December 2025.

  • Scientific name: Apamea sordens sableana
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This Canadian endemic grassland moth is found only on Sable Island, ~160 km from mainland Nova Scotia. All known individuals occur within this single, isolated island ecosystem, and the moth appears to be closely associated with the island’s grassland habitat. Available collecting records (1967-2019) indicate the moth is still encountered regularly and no population decline has been demonstrated. However, the moth is exposed to the cumulative effects of several island-wide threats such as increased frequency and severity of storms, sea-level rise, and dune erosion, and habitat alteration linked to feral horse grazing, shifting vegetation, the native grey seal population, and increased human visitation. The species’ very restricted distribution and susceptibility to stochastic storm events make it particularly sensitive to future declines.
    Range: Nova Scotia
    Status history: Designated Special Concern in December 2025.

  • Scientific name: Papaipema sp.
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This Canadian endemic grassland moth is found only on Sable Island, ~160 km from mainland Nova Scotia. All known individuals occur within this single, isolated island ecosystem. The moth is exposed to the cumulative effects of several island-wide threats such as increased frequency and severity of storms, sea-level rise, and dune erosion, and habitat alteration linked to feral horse grazing, shifting vegetation, the native grey seal population, and increased human visitation. The species’ very restricted distribution and susceptibility to stochastic storm events make it particularly sensitive to future declines.
    Range: Nova Scotia
    Status history: Designated Special Concern in December 2025.

  • Scientific name: Agrotis arenarius
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This Canadian endemic grassland moth is found only on the remote Sable Island, ~160 km from mainland Nova Scotia. All known individuals occur within this single, isolated island ecosystem and the moths appear to be closely associated with the island’s grassland habitat. The moth is exposed to the cumulative effects of several island-wide threats such as increased frequency and severity of storms, sea-level rise, and dune erosion, and habitat alteration linked to feral horse grazing, shifting vegetation, the native grey seal population, and increased human visitation. The species’ very restricted distribution and susceptibility to stochastic storm events make it particularly sensitive to future declines.
    Range: Nova Scotia
    Status history: Designated Special Concern in December 2025.

  • Scientific name: Eucosma sableana
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This Canadian endemic heathland moth is found only on Sable Island, ~160 km from mainland Nova Scotia. All known individuals occur within this single, isolated island ecosystem. The moth is exposed to the cumulative effects of several island-wide threats such as increased frequency and severity of storms, sea-level rise, and dune erosion, and habitat alteration linked to feral horse grazing, shifting vegetation, the native grey seal population, and increased human visitation. The species’ very restricted distribution and susceptibility to stochastic storm events make it particularly sensitive to future declines.
    Range: Nova Scotia
    Status history: Designated Special Concern in December 2025.

  • Scientific name: Orgyia leucostigma sablensis
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This Canadian endemic heathland moth is found only on Sable Island, ~160 km from mainland Nova Scotia. All known individuals occur within this single, isolated island ecosystem. Occasional “outbreak” years have been documented, when the population may increase by an order of magnitude relative to the long-term average. However, the moth is exposed to the cumulative effects of several island-wide threats such as increased frequency and severity of storms, sea-level rise, and dune erosion, and habitat alteration linked to feral horse grazing, shifting vegetation, the native grey seal population, and increased human visitation. The species’ very restricted distribution and susceptibility to stochastic storm events make it particularly sensitive to future declines.
    Range: Nova Scotia
    Status history: Designated Special Concern in December 2025.

Molluscs

  • Scientific name: Petrasma borealis
    Status: Data Deficient
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This relatively large, easily identified marine clam is found in shallow (<30-602 m), sulphur-rich subtidal sediments in the Bay of Fundy, on the Scotian Shelf and in the Laurentian Channel. Limited historical data exist and most recent records are based on shell fragments found in the drift along beaches, making it impossible to accurately assess the current distribution, trends in abundance, and fully assess threats.
    Range: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Ocean
    Status history: Designated Data Deficient in December 2025.

Vascular Plants

  • Scientific name: Desmodium illinoense
    Status: Endangered
    Assessment criteria: B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v); C2a(i,ii); D1
    Reason for designation: This perennial plant associated with tallgrass prairie remnants in Ontario was thought to be extirpated from Canada. However, plants previously identified as a similar species were recently determined to belong to this one. The population has declined over the past 20 years and now only consists of 35 mature individuals in a single locality. There are continuing threats to habitat quality, primarily due to encroachment by woody trees and shrubs. The low number of individuals puts the plant at a high risk of extirpation.
    Range: Ontario
    Status history: No site records since 1888. Designated Extirpated in April 1991. Status re-examined and confirmed in May 2000. Status re-examined and designated Endangered in December 2025.

  • Scientific name: Oxytropis lagopus
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This member of the pea family occurs in highly restricted habitat within a small area of Rough Fescue prairie on gravelly soils in southern Alberta and western Montana. Alberta occurrences represent a large portion of the world population. The plants face numerous threats including mining and quarrying, competition with invasive alien plant species, oil and gas drilling, housing and road development, and agriculture and impact from livestock, all of which have not been mitigated and are contributing to continuing habitat loss and degradation. The status from Threatened to Special Concern was due to increases in the distribution and discovery of new plants, and changes to interpretation in application of the number of locations.
    Range: Alberta
    Status history: Designated Special Concern in April 1995. Status re-examined and designated Threatened in May 2014. Status re-examined and designated Special Concern in December 2025.

  • Scientific name: Smilax rotundifolia
    Status: Special Concern
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: This species occurs in 15 subpopulations in southwestern Ontario. Two new subpopulations have been found since the previous assessment, but two others have been lost and there has been decline in habitat quality. The plants are, however, vigorous, long-lived, and resistant to habitat changes. Three subpopulations appear to have plants of only one sex and therefore may not produce seed. Status has been revised from the previous assessment of Threatened because there has been a change in the way the criteria related to fragmentation are applied.
    Range: Ontario
    Status history: Designated Threatened in April 1994. Status re-examined and confirmed in May 2001 and November 2007. Status re-examined and designated Special Concern in December 2025.

  • Scientific name: Smilax rotundifolia
    Status: Not at Risk
    Assessment criteria: Not applicable
    Reason for designation: The species is common in southern Nova Scotia where there are estimated to be more than 100,000 stems in at least 1,000 localities. The actual number of mature individuals for this species is, however, unknown, due to its clonal nature. No significant declines have been documented, and threats are limited. Many sites are in wild or protected habitat. The plants are vigorous, long-lived, and resistant to habitat changes.
    Range: Nova Scotia
    Status history: Designated Not at Risk in November 2007. Status re-examined and confirmed in December 2025.

Mosses

  • Scientific name: Bartramia halleriana
    Status: Threatened
    Assessment criteria: B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i)
    Reason for designation: This moss is confined to Canada in North America, occurring only in a limited area of the Rocky Mountains of Alberta and adjacent British Columbia. It is a narrow habitat specialist, occurring in cold, humid crevices of north-facing, rock outcrops at low elevations. The species is considered dispersal-limited because of its morphological traits and sheltered habitat. The species has declined since its last assessment, including the loss of one large subpopulation to wildfire and significant decline of another subpopulation due to road building. Frequency and extent of wildfire driven by climate change is expected to increase, and forestry or other disturbances that create dry edges continue to degrade habitat quality. In addition, hydroelectric installations, which can alter water flow along tributaries supporting certain subpopulations, could cause their decline. The small range of this species along with continuing threats causes continuing concern for its persistence in Canada.
    Range: British Columbia, Alberta
    Status history: Designated Threatened in November 2001. Status re-examined and confirmed in November 2011 and in December 2025.

Meeting date: December 5, 2025

About us

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) is an independent advisory panel to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada that meets twice a year to assess the status of wildlife species at risk of extinction. Members are wildlife biology experts from academia, government, non-governmental organizations and the private sector responsible for designating wildlife species in danger of disappearing from Canada.

COSEWIC secretariat

Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St. Joseph Blvd
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3

Email: cosewic-cosepac@ec.gc.ca