The Northwest Territories Species at Risk Committee (SARC) has designated muskrats as a species of “special concern” for the first time due to the impact of prolonged drought conditions on their ecosystems across the territory. According to a recent statement from SARC, the population trends of muskrats are indicative of the overall health of freshwater habitats, which are increasingly under threat from climate change and human activities like dam construction and flood control measures.
While muskrats are still found throughout the N.W.T., there have been observed declines in their abundance, particularly in the Mackenzie Delta region, raising concerns among knowledge holders about the species’ well-being. In response, the committee is recommending a sustainable and respectful approach to harvesting muskrats, along with ongoing monitoring to safeguard the remaining population. They also advocate for leveraging Indigenous knowledge to enhance awareness of the declining muskrat populations.
Furthermore, the status update by SARC also highlights wood bison as remaining “threatened” in the territory, a decade after their initial assessment in 2016. The population of wood bison, estimated at around 2,760 individuals outside Wood Buffalo National Park, has experienced a decrease over the past 15 years. Concerns from communities in the South Slave region and northern Alberta regarding population declines and disease outbreaks have been noted.
To address these challenges, the committee suggests enhancing coordination and information sharing on wood bison population surveys and outcomes, as well as implementing new road safety measures to reduce collisions with the animals. The N.W.T. SARC regularly evaluates species at risk in the territory, providing reports and recommendations to ensure their survival. Comprising both Indigenous and non-Indigenous experts, the committee is jointly appointed by federal and territorial authorities, as well as representatives from the territory’s wildlife co-management boards.