Species at Risk in SWCR

A “species at risk” is any naturally-occurring plant or animal that is in danger of extinction or of disappearing from the province. Once classified as “at risk” in Ontario, they are added to the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List. The SARO list complements the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), which is based on the recommendations of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). COSEWIC is a committee of experts that assesses and designates which wildlife species are at risk of disappearing from Canada. In most cases, the Provincial and Federal SAR lists are similar but there are some differences in status designations.

The diverse forests, savannas, sand barrens, wetlands, ravines, and streams at the St. Williams Conservation Reserve support important populations of more than 20 species at risk.

Pictures of many of these species are provided below. By clicking on the Common Name you can learn more about each species, with regards to their range, biology and threats.

Plants ~ Insects ~ Birds ~ Mammals

Plants

American Chestnut Castanea dentata Photo by Mary Gartshore	Spotted Wintergreen Chimaphila maculata Photo by David White	Eastern Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida Photo by Bernt Solymár
Butternut Juglans cinerea	Virginia Goat’s-rue Tephrosia virginiana	Bird’s-foot Violet Viola pedata Photo by Mary Gartshore

Insects

Monarch
Danaus plexippus
Photo by Bernt Solymár

Frosted Elfin
Callophrys irus
Photo by Mary Gartshore

Karner Blue
Lycaeides melissa samuelis
Photo by Mary Gartshore

Birds

Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus	Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea	Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens Photo by George Pond
Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla	Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens Photo by John Reaume