Overview
Non-native species that have been introduced to Alberta accidentally or deliberately are ranked exotic (also called alien) in Alberta’s general status assessment.
A small portion of non-native species is considered invasive. These species threaten the environment, economy or society as they compete with native species for resources, alter ecosystems, disrupt food sources and introduce parasites and disease. For more information on invasive species, visit:
Summary of key results
Among all 5 vertebrate groups, fish have the highest proportion (20%) of exotic species. No exotic amphibian or reptile species were known to be present in Alberta between 2000 and 2020 (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Number of native and exotic vertebrate species in Alberta in 2020
Chart data table
| Group | Native | Exotic |
|---|---|---|
| Reptiles | 9 | 0 |
| Mammals | 89 | 8 |
| Fish | 52 | 13 |
| Birds | 424 | 7 |
| Amphibians | 10 | 0 |
Accessible chart description
Stacked bar graph showing the number of native and exotic vertebrate species for each of the 5 vertebrate classes, including amphibians, birds, fish, mammals and reptiles in 2020. No exotic amphibian or reptile species were present in Alberta in 2020. Fish show the highest proportion of exotic species (13 exotic fish, 20% of all fish), followed by mammals (8 exotic mammals, 8% of all mammals) and birds (7 exotic birds, 2% of all birds).