AUGUST 11, 2015
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11. C.17 - CW INFO
On July 31, 2015, Environment Canada posted the following recovery planning documents on
the Species at Risk (SAR) Public Registry:
Recovery Strategy for the Nodding Pogonia (Triphora trianthophoros) in Canada [Proposed] or
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=2751
Recovery Strategy for the Queensnake (Regina septemvittata) in Canada [Proposed] or
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=2750
Management Plan for the Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) in Canada [Final version] or
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=1528
Management Plan for the Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) in Canada [Final
version]: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=2653
Management Plan for the Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus), Great Lakes population,
in Canada [Final version]:
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=2654
Management Plan for the Houghton's Goldenrod (Solidago houghtonii) in Canada [Final
version]: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=2668
Management Plan for the Tuberous Indian-plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum) in Canada
[Final version]: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=2667
For more information on the Species at Risk Act, recovery planning documents and species at
risk, please visit the SAR Public Registry at: www.sararegistry.gc.ca.
If you have any comments or questions about the recovery planning documents, please contact
the Consultations Biologist at:
Canadian Wildlife Service - Ontario
Environment Canada
4905 Dufferin Street
Toronto, ON M3H 5T4
E-mail: [email protected]
AUGUST 11, 2015
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11. C.17 - CW INFO
Dear Sir/ Madam,
The Western Chorus Frog – Great Lakes/St. Lawrence/Canadian Shield Population
(WCF) is listed as threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act
(SARA). Environment Canada is seeking up-to-date information regarding the WCF in
Canada. You are receiving this letter because this threatened amphibian and the habitat
it needs to live are located in your area of jurisdiction. The threatened population of this
frog species is located throughout southern Quebec and south-central Ontario.
A summary of the proposed recovery strategy for the WCF is enclosed. It describes the
species, its needs, and threats to its survival and recovery. The WCF uses permanent
wetlands and temporary ponds that appear in spring.
Because the species and its habitat exist within your municipal boundaries, we are
requesting your help and expertise in sharing up-to-date information with us. We have
already engaged the Province of Ontario and the Ontario Conservation Data Centre
(i.e., the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC)) for inventory and monitoring
data. In particular, we would appreciate receiving any information you have pertaining
to the following in Ontario:
• Do you have information about stewardship activities or conservation measures
being undertaken for the WCF or its habitat (other than those appearing in the
proposed recovery strategy, available at the Species at Risk website. Would you
be willing to share it?
• Do you have information about threats to the WCF or its habitat? (Please refer to
the draft recovery strategy (as noted above) for activities that may affect the
habitat of the WCF or refer to the attached 2 page summary). Would you be willing
to share it?
• Do you have other information you consider relevant and that you would be willing
to share to help us gather up-to-date information on the species?
We understand that species at risk is only one of many priorities for your community
and we appreciate the time you will invest in working with us. We would appreciate
receiving any information by no later than August 6, 2015. Should you have questions
about this request for information, please contact Victoria Leck of my office at (416)
739-4254.
To learn more about species at risk in Canada and what is being done to help them,
please contact us and/or visit the Species at Risk Public Registry at our website or
www.sararegistry.gc.ca.
We thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Carole Lemay
Regional Director, Canadian Wildlife Service – Ontario
AUGUST 11, 2015
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11. C.17 - CW INFO
Summary of the proposed Recovery Strategy for the
WESTERN CHORUS FROG
As part of its commitment to the protection of
species at risk, the Government of Canada
proclaimed the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in
2003. A recovery strategy must be developed for
each listed Extirpated, Endangered, and
Threatened species to reduce known threats and to
help species at risk recover.
Status
The Western Chorus Frog Great Lakes/St.
Lawrence – Canadian Shield population
(Pseudacris triseriata) is listed as Threatened under
SARA.
Western Chorus Frog © Andy Clay
Description and Distribution
The Western Chorus Frog is a small amphibian,
about 2.5 cm long and weighing about 1 gram as
an adult. It ranges in colour from brown to olive
grey and has three dark lines along its back and
one larger line on each flank. In Canada, it is found
in the lower parts of southern Ontario and
southwestern Quebec. Within this area, the
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in
Canada (COSEWIC) has defined two populations:
1) the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence–Canadian Shield
population, which this document focuses on: and 2)
the Carolinian population found in southwestern
Ontario, which has been classified as not at risk.
Habitat and Biological needs
The specific needs of individual Western Chorus
Frogs vary according to the life cycle stages. These
stages include: breeding; foraging and movements
within a local population; hibernation; and dispersal
between local populations.
In early spring to late summer, individuals prefer to
be in temporary ponds, rather than permanent
wetlands, as risk from predators is lower. Because
the frogs cannot travel long distances, foraging
usually occurs on land within a 250 to 300 metre
radius of their breeding habitat. Individuals feed in
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The Species at Risk Act and You
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11. C.17 - CW INFO
Summary of the proposed Recovery Strategy for the Western Chorus Frog
leafy vegetation and hibernate in soft soil under
rocks, dead trees, leaf beds or in burrows. Adults
are thought to breed only once and mortality rate is
high for these frogs, which means survival of each
local population depends on the breeding success
or new individuals joining from other local
populations.
Broad Strategies and General
Approaches to Meet Objectives
Meeting the population and distribution objectives
will depend on the following broad strategies:

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Threats
The major threat to Western Chorus Frog
populations in Canada is habitat loss and
degradation, which can be caused by:
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Urban development (building of homes and
changing water levels);
Increased agriculture activities;
Expansion of the road and trail networks;
Increased vegetation growth;
Increased use of fertilizers and pesticides;
and
Climate change.

Critical Habitat
The information below is adapted from the
proposed Recovery Strategy. For a full description
of critical habitat, please refer to the strategy.
Population and Distribution
Objectives
The identification of critical habitat for Western
Chorus Frog is based on two criteria: habitat
occupancy and habitat suitability.
The population and distribution objectives have
been established as short and long term objectives:

Short term objective: maintain the
abundance and area of occupancy of the
Western Chorus Frog within local
populations and maintain the connectivity
between populations.

Long-term objective: ensure the long-term
survival of local populations by increasing
the area of occupancy, abundance and
connectivity of these populations. Where
feasible, restore historical populations or
create new habitat.
Stewardship and management of the
species and its suitable habitat;
Surveys and monitoring (determine whether
management/restoration efforts are
effective);
Researching the species (identifying the
characteristics of the habitat or determining
how populations respond to major threats);
Communication and partnerships with
agencies, groups interested in the species,
aboriginal communities, private landowners
and the general public; and
Law and Policy to promote compliance with
existing legislations.
Habitat occupancy is based on suitable habitat
areas where there is evidence that the frogs are
found and the individuals can move between local
populations to successfully breed. This is based on
data from 1992 or later and that cover at least two
years within a 20-year period, with at least one
record from the past decade.
Habitat suitability is based on habitat
characteristics that the frogs need to carry out
activities throughout their life (e.g. mating, egg
laying, tadpole transformation, feeding, dispersal
and hibernation).
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The Species at Risk Act and You
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Critical Habitat includes all suitable habitat within
300 metres of occupied habitat, and corridors that
are used to connect two breeding wetlands
separated by a distance up to 900 metres, including
300 metres on either side of the connecting feature.
11. C.17 - CW INFO
Summary of the proposed Recovery Strategy for the Western Chorus Frog
Measuring Progress
Progress toward achieving the population and
distribution objectives will be measured using the
following performance indicators:

Activities likely to result in the
destruction of critical habitat
Activities likely to result in the destruction of critical
habitat include, but are not limited to:
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Infrastructure construction (e.g. roads or
houses) that causes a loss or decrease in
quality of habitat (e.g. through filling of
wetlands, removal of vegetation, resulting in
barriers to movement, increase in
recreational use and impacts to water
quality);
Alteration to wetland habitat through
reshaping or drainage leading to unsuitable
habitat conditions (e.g. deep water, steep
slopes, connection to fish habitats); and
Changes to agricultural practices that result
in reduced foraging opportunities, barriers to
movement and run-off of fertilizers and
pesticides that affects food availability and
development of the tadpoles.

Short term (2015-2025): population
abundance, area of occupancy, and
connectivity between populations are
maintained.
Long term (2015-2035): population viability
is achieved by increasing area of
occupancy, abundance, and connectivity
between populations. Where feasible,
historical populations have been restored
and new habitats have been created.
One or more action plans for this population of the
Western Chorus Frog will be developed by the end
of 2020.
Western Chorus Frog © Raymond Belhumeur
For more information, please contact us directly at:
Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Region
Environment Canada
4905 Dufferin Street
Toronto ON M3H 5T4
Fax: 416-739-5845
Email: [email protected]
You can also visit the following websites for more information:
SAR Public Registry (www.sararegistry.gc.ca)
Cover photos:
Eastern Prairie-fringed Orchid © Environment Canada, photo: Gary Allen
Cerulean Warbler © Environment Canada, photo: Karl Egressy
Blanding’s Turtle © Environment Canada, photo: Ryan M. Bolton
For information regarding reproduction rights, please contact Public Works
and Government Services Canada at 613-996-6886 or at
[email protected]
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada,
represented by the Minister of the Environment, 2013
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