Species at Risk

Cattle can co-exist with native plants and animals but producers need to be aware of the various species at risk that populate their land. As recovery strategies and action plans are developed, voluntary stewardship is encouraged to protect a wide range of threatened and endangered plant and animal species.

Good management for cattle usually means good management for wildlife. Managing for threatened or endangered species doesn’t mean excluding livestock from the landscape, but management fine-tuning may be needed.

Click here to download the Species at Risk Information Newsletter for producers, highlighting areas of the Canadian prairies that contain species that are at risk and what you can do to help protect them.
 

Eastern Loggerhead Shrike recovery

The CCA joined the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Team to assist in the creation of programs to ensure the survival of this unique bird.

Through education and extension, cattle producers in the birds’ habitat area are encouraged to maintain and expand existing pastureland so the shrikes may hunt. They are also encouraged to maintain and plant trees and shrubs at the edges of pastures and fields to serve as perches and nesting places for shrikes. They’re being thanked for letting their cattle graze, which helps keep the grass short enough for shrikes to spot their prey.

The Team received over $350,000 in contributions from the federal government's Habitat Stewardship Program and used the funds to:

• help landowners repair or install fencing to ensure that cattle graze on and thus preserve habitat favourable the shrikes.
• support landowners who remove trees and shrubs that limit both the amount of pasture and shrike habitat.
• help the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Team establish Recovery Action Teams (RAGS) in communities where shrikes are found. RAGS include landowners and representatives of farming organizations and other interested groups. Together, they are responsible for implementing recovery action plans developed by the Recovery Team.

If you’d like a more complete description, visit the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery website.