Endangered Species 

The American Badger is a solitary, fossorial (burrowing) mammal found primarily in southern British Columbia, including the Okanagan, Thompson, Similkameen, and Lower Mainland grasslands and shrub-steppe regions. It is at the northern edge of its range in Canada and is considered Threatened provincially due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-caused mortality. Badgers play an important ecological role by maintaining rodent populations and aerating soils through digging.

The California Bighorn Sheep is a native wild sheep subspecies found in the southern interior of British Columbia, primarily in the Okanagan, Thompson, Fraser River canyon, and Similkameen regions. These populations represent the northernmost extent of the subspecies’ range. Once heavily reduced by overhunting and disease from domestic livestock, California Bighorn Sheep populations in BC have recovered in many areas through conservation, translocations, and hunting management, and are currently considered stable to increasing, though still sensitive to disturbance.

Caribou in British Columbia represent the southernmost populations of caribou in the world and are among the province’s most threatened large mammals. BC supports three ecotypes—Mountain, Northern, and Boreal Caribou—each adapted to different landscapes. Many herds, especially Southern Mountain Caribou, are federally listed as Endangered due to severe population declines driven by habitat loss, fragmentation, and increased predation. Some herds have already disappeared from parts of the province.

The Cascade Ground Squirrel is a small, burrowing rodent found in southern British Columbia, primarily in the Okanagan, Similkameen, and Thompson valleys. It occupies the dry, open grasslands and shrub-steppe ecosystems at the northern edge of its range. Populations are locally common in suitable habitat, but habitat fragmentation and urban expansion have reduced connectivity between colonies.

The Fisher is a medium-sized, forest-dwelling carnivore found mainly in coastal and interior forests of British Columbia, including the Coastal Mountains, Cariboo, and northern Interior regions. Historically widespread, populations in some areas declined due to trapping, habitat loss, and forest fragmentation, but fisher numbers have stabilized or recovered in many parts of the province. Fishers play a key ecological role as specialized predators of porcupines and small mammals.

The Fringed Myotis is a rare insectivorous bat found in southern interior British Columbia, particularly in the Okanagan, Similkameen, and Thompson valleys. It occurs at the northern edge of its North American range and is Blue-listed provincially due to its limited populations and reliance on undisturbed roosting sites. This species plays an important role in controlling nocturnal insect populations in grassland, shrub-steppe, and forested ecosystems.

The Gopher Snake is the largest snake species in British Columbia and is found primarily in the southern interior, including the Okanagan, Thompson, Similkameen, and Fraser River valleys. In BC, it occurs at the northern edge of its range and is considered at risk, listed as Threatened federally and Blue-listed provincially. Populations are declining mainly due to habitat loss, road mortality, and persecution from being mistaken for rattlesnakes.

The Great Basin Pocket Mouse is a small, nocturnal rodent found in southern British Columbia, mainly in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. Populations here occur at the northernmost edge of the species’ range, restricted to dry, open grasslands and shrub-steppe habitats. While uncommon in BC, they are locally important for seed dispersal and as prey for raptors and small carnivores.

The Grizzly Bear is one of British Columbia’s most iconic large mammals and a keystone species in many ecosystems. BC supports one of the largest remaining grizzly bear populations in North America, primarily across the Interior, northern, and coastal mainland, though they are absent from Vancouver Island. Despite their broad distribution, grizzly bears are considered Threatened in Canada, with some southern populations in BC reduced or extirpated due to historical persecution, habitat loss, and human conflict.

The Night Snake, often called the Desert Night Snake in Canada, is one of the rarest snakes in British Columbia and is provincially Red-listed and federally designated Endangered. It occurs only in the dry grassland and shrub-steppe regions of the southern Okanagan and lower Similkameen Valleys, representing the northernmost extent of its range. Fewer than 100 individual sightings have been recorded in Canada since its discovery here, highlighting its secretive nature and rarity.

The Northern Bog Lemming is a small, elusive rodent found in northern and central British Columbia, primarily in boreal, sub-boreal, and subalpine regions. Although widespread across northern North America, it is rarely observed in BC due to its secretive behaviour and low population densities. It is considered a species of Special Concern provincially, mainly because of its specialized habitat requirements and sensitivity to environmental change.

The Northern Leopard Frog is a medium-sized amphibian once more widespread in southeast British Columbia. Today its presence in the province is extremely limited, with the only known native breeding population in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area and a few reintroduced populations in the Kootenay/Columbia lowlands. It is listed as Endangered federally and Red-listed provincially due to dramatic declines from habitat loss, disease, and other threats.