When it comes to protecting endangered species in Alberta, the questions often reveal just how complex — and important — this issue really is.
In this document, some of the following questions are answered:
- What should you do if you encounter an endangered species?
- What if you discover wildlife on your own property — a nesting bird, a rare amphibian, or a den you’ve never noticed before?
- What happens if your neighbour starts cutting down trees that may hold protected nests?
- And who, exactly, has the legal authority — the province or the federal government — to enforce protection laws?
These questions determine how Alberta’s wildlife is managed and how habitat loss is addressed in both public and private spaces.
Whether through the Species at Risk Act (SARA) or Alberta’s Wildlife Act, understanding these frameworks helps landowners, developers, and citizens play a lawful and proactive role in conservation.
Download the FAQ to see how these laws interact, what actions you can take, and how small acts of awareness contribute to a province-wide effort to safeguard at-risk species.
Additional Reading
- Habitat Law in Alberta Volume 1: State of Habitat Law
- Habitat Law in Alberta Volume 2: Barriers to Effective Management and Protection
- Habitat Law in Alberta: Volume 3: Jurisdictional Review
- Habitat Law in Alberta: Volume 4: Recommendations
- An Endangered Species Act for Alberta: A Draft Bill
- Threatened Jurisdiction: Species at Risk and the Constitution