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Mammal species at risk

At-risk reports on bison, grizzly bears, woodland caribou and other mammals in the province.

Species status as presented within publications may have changed since the publication date. Current general and detailed status is listed for each species.

Mammals – General

Species at Risk Program reports

No.4 - Survey of the bats of central and northwestern Alberta

  • Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 4, prepared by M.J. Vonhof and D. Hobson

No. 12 - Distribution of selected small mammals in Alberta

  • Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 12, prepared by L. Engley and M. Norton

No. 31 – Alberta Furbearer Harvest Data

  • Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 12, prepared by K.G. Poole and G. Mowat

No. 50 – Carnivores and Corridors in the Crowsnest Pass

  • Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 50, prepared by C. Chetkiewicz and M.S. Boyce

No.68 – Survey of Bats in Northeastern Alberta

  • Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 68, prepared by A. Hubbs and T. Schowalter

No.69 – Survey Protocol for the Richardson’s Ground Squirrel

  • Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 69, prepared by B.A. Downey

American Badger

Scientific name: Taxidea taxus
General status: Sensitive
Detailed status: Data Deficient

Detailed status report

Status of the American Badger (Taxidea taxus) in Alberta

  • Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 43, prepared by D. Scobie

Related information

Additional information for this species is available at:

Wood Bison

Scientific name: Bison bison athabascae
General status: At Risk
Detailed status: Threatened

Detailed status report

Status of the American Bison in Alberta

  • Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 38 (update 2017), prepared by J.S. Nishi

Grizzly Bear

Scientific name: Ursus arctos
General status: At Risk
Detailed status: Threatened

Detailed status report

A status report on Alberta’s grizzly bear population and habitat, prepared by an independent scientist, establishes a new baseline of information for the province.

The report uses data collected from the advanced technique on DNA surveys, satellite habitat mapping and other information regarding populations and habitat.

Report findings

The report estimates 691 grizzly bears ranging in density from five to 18 bears per 1,000 square kilometres. Some local populations with significant habitat alteration may be declining; other populations appear stable.

Status of the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) in Alberta

  • Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 37 (Update 2010), prepared by M. Festa-Bianchet

Recovery plans and summaries

To view the 2020 Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan prepared by Alberta Environment and Parks, see:

  • Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan

For more information, contact: Paul Frame, Provincial Carnivore Specialist

Species at Risk 2012-13 Recovery Action Summary: Grizzly Bear

Species at Risk Program reports

No. 10 - An Evaluation of Grizzly Bear – Human Conflict in the Northwest Boreal Region of Alberta (1991-2000) and Potential Mitigation

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 10, prepared by T. Augustyn

Related information

Additional information for this species is available at:

Also see:

Northern Myotis

Scientific name: Myotis septentrionalis
Other common names: northern bat, northern long-eared bat
General status: Endangered
Detailed status: Data Deficient

Draft recovery plan

Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 49, prepared by the Alberta government.

Detailed status report

Status of the Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) in Alberta: Update 2009

Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 03 Update 2009, prepared by C. Lausen

Archived detailed status report

Status of the Northern Long-eared Bat in Alberta

Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 3, prepared by M.C. Caceres, M.J. Pybus

Related information

Additional information for this species is available at:

Ord’s Kangaroo Rat

Scientific name: Dipodomys ordii
General status: At Risk
Detailed status: Endangered

Status of the Ord’s Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ordii) in Alberta

Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 4, prepared by D.L. Gummer

Fact sheet

Alberta’s Ord’s Kangaroo Rat

Recovery plan and action summary

Alberta Ord’s Kangaroo Rat Recovery Plan

Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 31, prepared by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development

For more information, contact: Joel Nicholson, Species at Risk Biologist

Alberta Ord’s Kangaroo Rat Recovery Action Summary 2014–15

Species at Risk program reports

No. 63 - Distribution of Ord’s Kangaroo Rats in Southeastern Alberta

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 63, prepared by D.L. Gummer and S.E. Robertson

No. 113 – Monitoring Protocol for the Ord’s Kangaroo Rat 

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 63, prepared by D.J. Bender, D.L. Gummer and R.E. Dzenkiw

No. 125 – Beneficial Management Practices for Ord’s Kangaroo Rat in Alberta

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 125, prepared by K.J. Kissner

No. 131 – Translocation Protocol for the Ord’s Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ordii)

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 131, prepared by D.J. Bender, R. Dzenkiw and D.L. Gummer

No. 136 – An Occurrence-based Habitat Model for the Ord’s Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ordii) in Alberta

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 136, prepared by D.J. Bender, D.L. Gummer, R. Dzenkiw and J.A. Heinrichs

Related information

Additional information for this species is available at:

Updated: August 27, 2018

Red-tailed Chipmunk

Scientific name: Tamias ruficaudus
General status: Sensitive
Detailed status: Not at Risk

Detailed status report

Status of the Red-tailed Chipmunk(Tamias ruficaudus) in Alberta

Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 19, prepared by R. Bennett

Swift Fox

Scientific name: Vulpes velox
General status: At Risk
Detailed status: Endangered

Detailed status report

Status of the Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) in Alberta

Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 7, prepared by S.E. Cotterill

Fact sheet

Swift Fox

Recovery plan

Alberta Swift Fox Recovery Plan 2006-2011

Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 14, prepared by the Alberta Swift Fox Recovery Team 

For more information, contact: Joel Nicholson, Species at Risk Biologist

Species at Risk program reports

No. 24 - Census of Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) in Canada and Northern Montana: 2000-2001

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 24, prepared by A. Moehrenschlager and C. Moehrenschlager

Related information

Additional information for this species is available at:

Western Small-footed Bat

Scientific name: Myotis ciliolabrum
General status: Sensitive
Detailed status: Species of Special Concern

Detailed status report

Status of the Western Small-footed Bat (Myotis ciliolabrum) in Alberta

Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 64, prepared by C. Lausen and T. Schowalter

Management plan

Western Small-footed Bat Conservation Management Plan

Alberta Species at Risk Conservation Management Plan No. 6, prepared by L. Wilkinson

Related information

Additional information for this species is available at:

 Wolverine

Scientific name: Gulo gulo
General status: May be at Risk
Detailed status: Data Deficient

Detailed status report

Status of the Wolverine (Gulo gulo) in Alberta

Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 2, prepared by S. Petersen

Fact sheet

Alberta’s Wolverine

Species at Risk Program reports

No. 32 - Measuring Wolverine Distribution and Abundance in Alberta

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 32, prepared by G. Mowat

No. 71 – Testing Methods for Detecting Wolverine 

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 71, prepared by G. Mowat, C. Kyle and D. Paetkau

Related information

Additional information for this species is available at:

Woodland Caribou

Scientific Name: Rangifer tarandus caribou
General Status: At Risk
Detailed Status: Threatened

Detailed status report

Status of the Woodland Caribou in Alberta – Update 2010

Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 30 (Update 2010), prepared by D. Cichowski

Archived status report

Status of the Woodland Caribou in Alberta

Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 30, prepared by E. Dzus

Recovery plans and summaries

Alberta Woodland Caribou Recovery Plan 2004/05 – 2013/14

Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 4, prepared by the Alberta Woodland Caribou Recovery Team

Species at Risk Program reports

No. 23 – 2000/2001 Progress Report on Caribou Research in West Central Alberta

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 23, prepared by T. Szkorupa

No. 33 – Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) Habitat Classification in Northeastern Alberta Using Remote Sensing

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 33, prepared by G.A. Sanchez-Azofeifa and R. Bechtel

No. 48 – Caribou Range Recovery in Alberta: 2001/02 Pilot Year

Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 48, prepared by T. Szkorupa

Related information

Additional information for this species is available at:

  • Caribou Range Planning
  • Wildlife Sensitivity Maps – Data Sets – Industrial operators, government departments and the general public may review the following caribou-related wildlife sensitivity feature layers:
    • Caribou Range Key Range Layer (Came into effect April 1, 2013)
    • Caribou Zone Key Wildlife Layer (Expires March 31, 2013)
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