The federal Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) celebrated four decades of wildlife protection with some good news — the peregrine falcon, one of the first species COSEWIC assessed, is no longer at Risk of Extinction throughout most of Canada.
COSEWIC was created in March 1977 and the falcon was assessed in 1978. The DDT pesticide ban and a captive-breeding program are credited with the bird’s recovery, as well as its resilient nature and use of urban areas for nesting and prey.
Marcel Gahbauer, co-chair of COSEWIC’s Birds Specialist Subcommittee said, “The ongoing recovery of the peregrine represents a rare but important example of how focused stewardship can lead to success. This is definitely a good news story.”
In the fall, COSEWIC will deliver its annual report to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change which will list species for consideration under the Species at Risk Act.
Committee members on this independent advisory panel are responsible for designating wildlife species in danger of disappearing from Canada.
Originally published in the Ontario OUT of DOORS 2018 Fishing Annual
