It's hard to feel optimistic about the future when so many species and their habitats have been harmed or are disappearing. Species recovery calls for time, money, expertise, and a lot of effort and teamwork. Luckily, we have encouraging news.
For instance, recovery teams have worked for decades to reintroduce the swift fox to Saskatchewan and Alberta. This little canine, no bigger than a house cat, disappeared from the Prairies in the 1930s when much of its habitat was plowed up. It was also trapped for fur, or poisoned when it ate bait meant for wolves, coyotes, and ground squirrels. All levels of government, private companies and agencies, and hundreds of volunteers cooperated in the efforts to help this creature, and now, the swift fox is streaking across the Prairies once again. Even with this progress, however, it will take years of work for the species to be completely re-established.
Fifty years ago there were only 21 whooping cranes left on the planet. Thanks to dedicated recovery efforts, there are over 400 of the majestic birds alive today. The "whooper", North America's tallest bird, prefers marshy areas and requires large expanses of habitat. It began to disappear when its summer habitat in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, as well as its wintering grounds in Texas, were overrun by human settlements. Until 1917, when the bird became protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, shooting was also a major cause of its decline.
To help the species rebound, Canadian and U.S. governments and many organizations have made ambitious conservation efforts. The whooper is still endangered, however, and an environmental calamity, such as a major storm or oil spill, could devastate its population.
Some recovery efforts are small and quite local, such as the relocation of 18 yellow-bellied marmots that lived in a vacant lot in North Vancouver. When their home was threatened by the construction of a huge shopping centre, B.C.'s Wildlife Rescue Association stepped in. The developers agreed to delay construction until the little colony of burrowing rodents could be moved. Before long, they adapted to a new home in a protected refuge 160 kilometres east of the city.
It is inspiring to hear about successful recovery programs, but it is prevention, not recovery, that will best protect our natural heritage. It is far simpler to prevent wildlife from disappearing than it is to bring it back, and once gone, many species can never be recovered.
Consult with your nearest provincial or territorial wildlife branch for advice on specific recovery plans in your area. Many efforts are too complex for the general public to take part in, but some will welcome - and rely on - help from community groups and individuals.