Table 2. Threat Assessment Table
Threat Level of Concern1 Extent Occurrence Frequency Severity2 Causal Certainty3
Habitat loss or degradation
Urban development and agricultural cultivation High Localizeds Historic, current, anticipated Continuous High High
Wildfire High Localized Historic, current, anticipated Recurrent High High
Inappropriate livestock grazing Medium Widespread Historic, current Recurrent High Moderate
Road construction and maintenance Medium Localized Historic, current, anticipated Continuous Moderate Moderate
Mineral, oil and gas exploration/ extraction Medium Localized Current Continuous Unknown Low
Range management Medium Localized Historic (B.C.), current, anticipated (Alberta and Sask.) Recurrent High High
Changes in ecological dynamics or natural processes
Fire suppression Medium Widespread Historic, current, anticipated Recurrent, continuous Low Low
Climate change and natural disasters
Climate change Low Widespread Current, anticipated Continuous Unknown Low

1 Level of Concern: signifies that managing the threat is of (high, medium or low) concern for the recovery of the species, consistent with the population and distribution objectives. This criterion considers the assessment of all the information in the table.

2 Severity: reflects the population-level effect (High: very large population-level effect, Moderate, Low, Unknown).

3 Causal certainty: reflects the degree of evidence that is known for the threat (High: available evidence strongly links the threat to stresses on population viability; Medium: there is a correlation between the threat and population viability e.g. expert opinion; Low: the threat is assumed or plausible).