Species at Risk

Priority Species

The Parks Canada Agency is concerned with the status of all species living in its protected heritage areas. However, the Parks Canada Species at Risk Program pays particular attention to the recovery of species at risk found either exclusively or predominantly within national parks and other protected heritage areas. Parks Canada is contributing actively to recovery teams working towards the development of recovery strategies for the following priority species:

• the Banff Springs Snail
• the Blanding's Turtle
• the Massasauga Rattlesnake
• the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus
• the Pitcher's Thistle
• the Seaside Centipede Lichen
• the Water-pennywort
• the Haller's apple moss

Parks Canada staff also collaborates with other federal, provincial and territorial agencies, as well as with universities and not-for-profit organisations as an active member of many recovery teams.

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus, (Opuntia humifosa), Point Pelee National Park of Canada (ON) © Parks Canada / P. McCloskey, 1976 / 06.62.03.05 (64)

Banff Springs Snail, (Physella johnsoni), Banff National Park of Canada (AB) © Parks Canada / M. & L., Degner, 2001 / 09.93.10.17(06)

Massasauga Rattlesnake, (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) © Parks Canada

Pitcher's thistle, (Cirsium pitcheri) © Parks Canada