Canada's Endangered Animals

Canada has dozens of animals and birds that are threatened or endangered. In 2006, thirty-two more species were added to the Endangered Species List. Today 13 species are extinct and 521 are endangered. 75% of the endangered species are threatened because of loss of their habitat.

Species at Risk

Of the 521 species at risk, 41 are data deficient, 13 are extinct, 22 are extirpated, 151 are concerned species, 136 are threatened and 212 are endangered. Some of the endangered species in Canada include bison, whooping cranes, Banff snail, burrowing owl, kangaroo rat, Peregrine falcon, polar bear, woodland caribou, Peary caribou, bull trout, piping plover, swift fox, white pelican, trumpeter swan, black-footed ferret, grey whale, Eskimo curlew, eastern cougar, common green turtle and a wide range of others too numerous to list.

Extinct

Species that Canada has lost forever include birds such as the great auk, the passenger pigeon and the Labrador duck. Fish lost to extinction are the blue walleye, longjaw cisco, Banff longnose dace and the deepwater cisco. The only extinct mammal to this point is the sea mink, but the woodland caribou population is diminishing at an alarming rate.

Golden and bald eagles, as well as the sedgewren, caspian tern, horned greb and the red-headed woodpecker are species of special concern. Wouldn't it be sad if all of these species disappeared from Canada and were not a part of the Earth in future generations?

Canadian Wildlife Federation

The goal of the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is "to foster grass roots wildlife conservation." They encourage each person living in this country to take-on Community Wildlife Habitat Projects. CWF is dedicated "to fostering awareness and appreciation of our natural world."

Projects

Build a Toad House

Supplies

* Terra cotta flower pot with saucer.
* Trowel.
* Earth colored paint - greens, browns etc.
*Paint brush.

Method

* Apply a design with the paint on the sides and bottom of the flower pot.
* Allow to dry thoroughly.
* Lay the pot on its side in a sheltered area of your yard.
* Use the trowel to bury the pot halfway into the soil.
* Line the bottom of the flower pot with dead leaves.
* Place the saucer out of view of the flower pot house and fill with clean water.
* Avoid the area for a few days and then check to see if Mr. or Mrs. Toad has moved in. If not, try moving the flower pot house to another location.

Tip

Use a battery-operated night light near Mr. Toad's house. This attracts all kinds of lip smackin' treats for Mr. Toad to enjoy. Moths and other insects that Mr. Toad enjoys will be drawn to the light to provide a healthy snack.

Attracting Wildlife to Your Yard

If you wish to attract wildlife to your yard, it is imperative that you supply shelter, a source of food and water and space. This will draw a wide range of animal and bird species to your yard.

Shelter

Shelter can be found in woodpiles, brush, rock piles and deciduous trees. These provide species with shelter from the sun, wind, rain and snow.

Food

Plant shrubs and bushes that provide berries, nuts and seeds. Grasses and native wildflowers, as well as other types of flowers provide a source of food for all types of birds and insects.

Water

Set out several bowls of water, install a birdbath, a fountain or install a garden pond so wildlife species that live in or visit your yard will have a source of clean water. Water should be changed daily in order to prevent species from drinking dirty water.

Space

Be sure there are layers of vegetation throughout your yard - trees of different heights, grass of different heights, ground cover, wildflowers and a variety of shrubs. These provide room for species to live side by side without being overcrowded.

These are just a few of the things that you can do to prevent the decline of habitat for wildlife. It's imperative that all species be maintained in order to keep the Earth in a healthy balance.

Note:

Albert Einstein made the statement "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years left to live." He was speaking in regard to the symbiotic relationship of all life on the planet. All part of a huge interconnected ecosystem, each element playing a role dependant on many other elements all working in concert creating the symphony of life. Should any part of the global body suffer, so does the whole body.

The above note is a quote from the website of Richard Thomas. To learn more about bees and their importance to the Earth and mankind, click on his name to read his article.