Meet some of Nova Scotia's endangered species - threatened by loss of habitat caused by clearcutting

Adam J Malcolm, member of the Stop Clearcutting Unama'ki (Cape Breton) facebook group, put a file together of a dozen species in Nova Scotia "whose declining fortunes are due, at least in part, to declining forest health."

JanChr photo

"Vulnerable to habitat fragmentation"
Visit & join Species at Risk facebook group

The flying squirrel habitat is becoming increasingly fragmented and degraded by industrial clearcutting, which spells trouble for these little nighttime wonders. Video 1:20

Video by Adam J Malcolm
Stop Clearcutting Unama'ki (Cape Breton)
facebook group

Nova Scotia Species-at-Risk

The Pine, or American Marten is struggling in Nova Scotia due to loss of habitat.
Raising awareness about the species we're losing in Nova Scotia and beyond
Follow on NSspecies@risk at instagram
Photo: American marten (Martes americana), juvenile female, Lassen National Forest, Northern CA (2) by Tatiana Gettelman is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 / Cropped for Facebook, enhanced in photos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/legalcode The adapted image is shared under the same terms.

The Gift that Keeps Giving!
One-fifth of all animal and plant species - about 6,000 in all - depend on dead wood.
Removing dead wood destroys valuable habitats. Live wood is of no use to organisms that live in dead wood.

The Hidden Life of Trees
Forester & Author, Peter Wohlleben

In Nova Scotia only about 40 breeding pairs of Piping Plovers remain. These birds are dispersed around the province on 17 sand beaches. Despite concerted conservation efforts here and elsewhere in North America, the numbers of this species remain low. The main reasons for this include: deterioration of marginal nesting habitat due to natural events (storms, vegetation succession), human alteration of beach habitat, human disturbance during nesting and predation by birds and mammals on eggs and young.

Click for more Nova Scotia details:
Legally Listed Endangered Species

Photo by Mark Elderkin
Biologist, Species at Risk
Wildlife Division
NS Department of Lands and Forestry

Mainland Moose
Conservation Status in Nova Scotia: Critically endangered

Habitat:
Unfragmented forests of various ages.
Ecosystem services:
Shapes ecosystems through selective browsing; traditional subsistence food source Reasons for decline:
Habitat loss and fragmentation; disease; logging road building to clearcuts leading to increased disturbance and poaching.

• Letter to: Derek Mombourquette, Minister of the Department of Lands & Forestry.
  From: Bob Bancroft, President of Nature Nova Scotia.
  Also a map of collected observations and data to determine which areas should be protected
  as core habitat for Mainland Moose: Map & letter
• Nova Scotia Government info: Mainland Moose FAQs
• Provincial government notes: ". . . the loss of mature forests due to harvesting and development can be detrimental to moose if there are not adequate stands of various age forest communities to provide food, shelter, security and connectivity of these various habitat components. In the winter when the snow is deep, mature forests are an essential component of moose habitat. These forest types provide shelter and reduce snow levels beneath a closed canopy forest, allowing the moose to travel more easily and expend less energy while searching for food.
  Another problem with forest harvesting is that more road access is created, which allows for greater disturbance of moose by recreationists.
• Extinction Rebellion Nova Scotia are taking action for the 2nd year in a row. On December 2, 2021 they set up the Last Hope Wildlife Corridor Camp.
  On-the-Ground Reports from South Mountain, Nova Scotia

Resources on Nova Scotia's Endangered Mainland Moose:

• Intentional Extirpation
  The Fight to Save the Nova Scotia Mainland Moose
  
  25:15 - January 1, 2021
  The Naturalist
• How the Govt of Nova Scotia Makes a Mockery of UNESCO
  
  21 pages: November 18, 2020
  Extinction Rebellion Nova Scotia
• Bob Bancroft on the Sad Plain Truth
  
  Nova Scotia's management of our Endangered Mainland Moose
  November 17, 2020
• Moose Country Blockade Info
  Since October 21, 2020
  Extinction Rebellion Blockade to protect Moose Country from Clearcutting
• Critically endangered moose poster
  Approximately 100 left
• Action Plan for Mainland Moose Recovery
  
  26 pages: Dated 2014 - 2018
  (Note: December, 2020 - numbers continue dropping)
  Nova Scotia (then) Department of Natural Resources
• Evaluating NS's legal obligations
  To protect / recover mainland moose & other species-at-risk
  11 pages: 2015
• Endangered Mainland Moose Special Management Practices
  2 pages: Dated 2012
  (Note: December, 2020 - from endangered to "Critically Endangered")
  Nova Scotia (then) Department of Natural Resources

US Fish & Wildlife photo	Canada Lynx Conservation Status in Nova Scotia: Endangered Habitat: Coniferous forest with abundant Snowshoe Hare. Ecosystem services: Compete with Coyote for Snowshoe Hare Reasons for decline: Habitat destruction and fragmentation; trapping; disease. Lynx in Nova Scotia
Tatiana Gettelman photo	American Marten Conservation Status in Nova Scotia: Critically endangered Habitat: Mature forest. Ecosystem services: Consumes mice and voles, keeping numbers in check Reasons for decline: Habitat destruction and degradation. There are likely fewer than 50 in the province. Endangered American Marten Special Management Practices (Source: The-then Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources July 2012) "Our voices really can make a difference" Cape Breton's threatened marten population gets a break Nova Scotia Advocate, January 7, 2021
DaveInman photo	Rusty Blackbird Conservation Status in Nova Scotia: Endangered Habitat: Wet, coniferous forests and bogs. Ecosystem services: Rusty blackbirds consume flies, ants and wasps, helping to keep numbers in check. Reasons for decline: Habitat loss and deliberate poisoning. Landbird Species at Risk in Forested Wetlands: Rusty Blackbird
KP McFarland photo	Bicknell's Thrush Conservation Status in Nova Scotia: Endangered Habitat: Upland coniferous forest Ecosystem services: Consumes ants and flies, helping to keep numbers in check; disseminate wild fruit seeds Reasons for decline: Habitat loss and degradation; air pollution. Hinterland Who's Who: Bicknell's Thrush
Kelly Colgan Azar photo	Canada Warbler Conservation Status in Nova Scotia: Endangered Habitat: Mixed coniferous and deciduous forests with shrubby, mossy understory. Ecosystem services: Consumes insects and spiders, keeping numbers in check Reasons for decline: Habitat loss and degradation. Landbird Species at Risk in Forested Wetlands: Canada Warbler
eschipul photo	Chimney Swift Conservation Status in Nova Scotia: Critically endangered Habitat: Large hollow trees and chimneys Ecosystem services: Consumes flies, ants, wasps, aphids, helping to keep numbers in check Reasons for decline: Loss of Old Growth Forests, with suitable nesting sites; pesticides. Landbird Species at Risk in Forested Wetlands: Chimney Swift
Shawn McCready photo	Bank Swallow Conservation Status in Nova Scotia: Critically endangered Habitat: Brook and river banks; lake and ocean bluffs. Ecosystem services: Consume and enourmous amount of flies, ants and wasps, helping to keep their numbers in check. Reasons for decline: Road building and pesticide use. Audobon Guide: Bank Swallow