Canada’s wild spaces are vast and varied, but they’re not immune to threats. Habitat loss and degradation, from logging, mining, urban sprawl and climate change, are placing increasing pressure on many native animals. Wildlife watchdogs report that habitat loss is the primary threat to biodiversity in Canada. In this article, we’ll highlight eight remarkable Canadian species at risk because of shrinking or fragmented habitats, and explore practical actions Canadians can take right now to make a difference.
This article is for general knowledge only and is based on information from Canadian government and conservation sources available online. Wildlife status and regulations can change by province and territory.
1. Woodland Caribou
These forest wanderers once roamed across much of Canada, but logging and resource development have carved up their territory into smaller patches. Caribou need vast, undisturbed areas to find food and escape predators like wolves.
Supporting sustainable forestry practices helps protect their home. You can write to government officials asking for stronger protections for caribou habitat. Choosing products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council ensures your purchases support responsible logging. Reducing paper use at home and school also lessens demand for new logging operations in caribou territory.
2. Polar Bear
Sea ice provides the platform polar bears need to hunt seals, their primary food source. Climate change is melting this ice earlier each spring and forming it later each fall, leaving bears with less time to build up fat reserves.
Reducing your carbon footprint directly helps slow ice loss. Walking, biking, or taking public transit instead of driving cuts emissions. Turning off lights and electronics when not in use saves energy. Supporting renewable energy projects and climate action policies creates larger scale change that benefits polar bears and countless other species.
3. Vancouver Island Marmot
Found nowhere else on Earth, this marmot lives only in the alpine meadows of Vancouver Island. Logging and climate change have reduced suitable habitat, while predators take advantage of forest roads to access previously remote areas.
Conservation breeding programs have brought this species back from the brink of extinction. Donating to organizations like the Marmot Recovery Foundation directly supports these efforts. Respecting wildlife viewing guidelines when visiting their habitat prevents stress to recovering populations. Spreading awareness about this unique Canadian species helps build public support for continued conservation funding and habitat protection measures.
4. Beluga Whale
The St. Lawrence River population of belugas has struggled to recover despite decades of protection. Pollution, underwater noise from ships, and declining food sources all contribute to their continued vulnerability.
Reducing plastic use prevents harmful debris from reaching waterways that flow into the St. Lawrence. Properly disposing of medications rather than flushing them keeps chemicals out of aquatic ecosystems. Supporting quieter shipping technologies and speed restrictions in beluga habitat reduces stress on these sound-sensitive animals. Choosing seafood from sustainable sources helps maintain healthy fish populations that belugas depend on for food.
5. Burrowing Owl
These small owls nest in abandoned prairie dog and ground squirrel burrows across the prairies. Conversion of grasslands to cropland has eliminated much of their habitat, while pesticides reduce the insects and small mammals they eat.
Protecting prairie ecosystems benefits burrowing owls and numerous other species. Homeowners can reduce or eliminate pesticide use in their yards, creating healthier spaces for insects and birds. Supporting organic farming practices encourages agriculture that works with nature rather than against it. Reporting burrowing owl sightings to wildlife authorities helps track remaining populations and identify important habitat areas.
6. Leatherback Sea Turtle
These ancient mariners travel thousands of kilometres to feed in Canadian Atlantic waters each summer, following jellyfish populations. Fishing gear entanglement, plastic pollution, and declining nesting beaches threaten their survival.
Reducing single-use plastics keeps deadly debris out of the ocean. Bags and balloons can resemble jellyfish, causing turtles to eat them and suffer internal injuries. Supporting sustainable fishing practices and turtle-safe fishing gear reduces accidental catches. Participating in beach cleanups removes hazards from coastal areas. Choosing reef-safe sunscreen when visiting beaches prevents chemicals from harming marine ecosystems that support turtle food sources.
7. Peary Caribou
Living on the high Arctic islands, these pale caribou face some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Climate change brings unpredictable weather patterns, including rain that freezes into ice crusts, preventing them from reaching vegetation beneath the snow.
Taking action on climate change helps these remote animals survive. Reducing energy consumption at home through better insulation and efficient appliances lowers emissions. Supporting Indigenous-led conservation initiatives respects traditional knowledge about caribou behaviour and habitat needs. Learning about Arctic ecosystems helps Canadians understand connections between their daily choices and impacts on distant wildlife populations.
8. Blanding’s Turtle
Wetlands across southern Ontario and Quebec provide essential habitat for these long-lived turtles with their distinctive yellow throats. Road mortality during nesting season and wetland drainage for development pose serious threats to their survival.
Creating wildlife-friendly yards with small ponds or water features provides habitat for turtles and other species. Never removing turtles from the wild as pets protects wild populations. Helping turtles cross roads safely by moving them in the direction they were heading prevents many deaths. Supporting wetland conservation and restoration projects maintains the complex ecosystems these ancient reptiles need to thrive.
