Species at Risk

1
Species at Risk

• Two Rivers Wildlife Park invites you to learn
  more about species at risk in Nova Scotia

2
What are Species at Risk?

• Any animal, plant, or other organism that is
  considered at serious risk of extinction

S P E C I E S A T R I S K

• Usually species are at risk due to human
  activities

• Extinction is occurring at a rate never before
  seen in the history of human existence

3
What are the Species at Risk Categories

• 1. Endangered - a species facing imminent
  extirpation or extinction

2. Threatened - a species likely to become
endangered if limiting factors are not reversed
3. Special Concern (Vulnerable) - a species
sensitive to human activities or natural events.
This sensitivity makes it vulnerable to harm.
Vocabulary Extirpation Loss of a species from
a specific area but one or more populations
surviving elsewhere on Earth.
Extinction Species no longer in existence
4
Species at Risk Around the World

• 11,000 species face extinction
• 800 extinct due to human activities

• Extinction is occurring at a higher rate than
  ever before

5
How many Species at Risk ?

• 431 species at risk in Canada

• Over 40 species at risk in NS

• 12 species extinct in Canada
• 5 species extinct in NS

6
Species at Risk around Nova Scotia
Victoria 6
Cape Breton Regional 5
Inverness 7
Cumberland 6
Richmond 4
Antigonish 4
Pictou 3
Colchester 4
Guysborough 4
East Hants 4
St. Marys 5
Kings 5
West Hants 5
Halifax Regional 7

• Where do you live in Nova Scotia?

Annapolis 8
Chester 6
Digby 4
Lunenburg 11
Clare 2
Region of Queens 13
Argyle 11

• How many species are at risk in your area?
  Locate the number on the map.

Yarmouth 6
Shelburne 9
Barrington 6
7
Why Are Species at Risk?

• Usually species are at risk of extinction due to
  human activities
• 4 Main Reasons
• Habitat loss
• Over exploitation (i.e. over-hunting)
• Pollution
• Exotic (alien) species

8
Habitat Loss

• Habitat loss is the main threat to species.

• Our need for more and more land for buildings,
  farming, forestry and roads sometimes leaves
  wildlife without a place to live.

• Without a place to live a species becomes
  extinct.

9
Over-Exploitation

• Another major cause of extinction is too much
  hunting, fishing, or trapping, called
  over-harvesting.

• The Atlantic cod was over-harvested, or fished to
  the point of being endangered.

10
Alien Species

• Alien species are plants or animals that are
  introduced to an area by humans, either
  accidentally or on purpose. The alien species may
  take over and kill native species by
  out-competing them for food or habitat.

• Purple loosestrife, a plant originally from
  Europe and Asia is now found across Canada.

• It clogs habitats, and is a threat to some
  species who live in these habitats.

• This is not only bad news for certain species,
  but also for the humans who rely on these native
  species.

11
Pollution

• Toxic chemicals are finding their way into more
  and more water habitats.

• Toxic chemicals do not only affect water. Acids,
  metals, and other poisonous compounds rain down
  on land habitats too, often thousands of miles
  from their source.

12
Why is Wildlife Important

• Everything we have or use as human beings has
  its roots in nature, and most of these in
  wildlife.
• In fact, without wildlife, the planet could not
  support human life.

13
Saving Wildlife
Saving a species that is at risk of extinction
involves several steps
1. Getting them put on the species at risk list
2. Passing laws to protect the remaining wildlife
and habitat
3. Organize recovery of the species
14
Two Rivers Wildlife Park

• During your visit to Two Rivers Wildlife Park you
  can learn more about some species that are at
  risk in Nova Scotia.

• Did you know that Two Rivers helps injured or
  abandoned animals? The park has a rehabilitation
  program to help these animals.

The next few slides will introduce you to some of
the animals at Two Rivers that are considered at
risk in NS
15
American Marten

• The Marten is considered at risk in Nova Scotia.
  You can see this member of the weasel family at
• Two Rivers Wildlife Park.

• Martens almost became extinct in NS because of
  over-hunting. With loss of suitable habitat, it
  is likely that there are less than 50 animals on
  Cape Breton Island.

16
Moose

• The moose is the largest member of the deer
  family. Found throughout NS, moose are only
  considered at risk on the mainland. There is a
  healthy population on Cape Breton Island.

• Millie the moose was found injured and abandoned
  in 2005. She was successfully rehabilitated at
  Two Rivers! Visit Two Rivers Wildlife Park to
  learn more about moose!

17
Lynx

• Lynx were once found all over NS, but today they
  are mainly found in the Cape Breton Highlands.
  They are a species at risk because of loss of
  habitat, human pressures, and competition from
  other animals.

• You can learn more about this wild cat during
  your visit to Two Rivers Wildlife Park.

18
To Learn More about Species at Risk
We hope you enjoyed this presentation about
Species at Risk. To better understand why species
are at risk and what you can do to help, complete
some of the Two Rivers EduKit activities and
visit Two Rivers Wildlife Park.

• Graphics and information courtesy of
• Eaton, Samara T and Boates, J. Sherman. 2004
  Municipal and community stewardship new tools
  in support of recovery of species at risk and
  their habitats. Department of Natural Resources,
  Nova Scotia.