PEIA new report on Prince Edward Island’s wildlife found that 60 per cent of species in the province are considered to be stable, but that the other 40 per cent could be at risk of extinction. ‘There’s always going to be winners and losers in wildlife populations,’ says biologistDelaney Kelly · CBC News · Posted: Oct 08, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoMatthew Ginn, a wildlife biologist with P.E.I.’s forest, fish and wildlife division, says the State of Wildlife Report monitored significantly more species than the last survey of this kind back in 2010. (Jane Robertson/CBC)A new report on Prince Edward Island’s wildlife found that 60 per cent of species in the province are considered to be stable, but that the other 40 per cent could be at risk of extinction. The province’s forests, fish and wildlife division has had a mandate to produce the State of Wildlife Report since 1997. The newly released report covers the period between 2007 and 2020, and monitored the status of more than 5,600 wild species across P.E.I.Mathew Ginn, a wildlife biologist with the division who worked on the report, said this survey monitored significantly more species than the last report of this kind back in 2010, including some that weren’t native to the Island. He said raccoon, coyote and fox populations are strong, but that staff are concerned about birds like piping plovers and the bobolink, a species of small grassland blackbird. Fox populations on P.E.I. have historically been impacted by sarcoptic mange, but the wildlife report indicates their population is secure. (Submitted by Paul Gauthier)”You’re always concerned when you see species reach a level where there’s a chance of [extinction],” Ginn said.”At the same token, it opens up niches for other wildlife species. There’s always going to be winners and losers in wildlife populations and [it] tends to form a cyclical pattern in a lot of cases.” Natural cyclesWhile fox populations on P.E.I. have historically been impacted by sarcoptic mange — a disease caused by a mite that burrows itself into surface layers of skin, causing itching and irritation — Ginn said the wildlife report indicates their population is secure. “These types of disease cycles are natural in populations,” he said. “If anything, there might have been an overabundance of foxes in certain areas, which led to the transmission of disease.” Part of the reason fur animal numbers are up compared to other years is because fewer people are trapping, he said, adding that too much of a certain species can cause other issues. “Whenever you have an overabundance of a predator, it’s going to have an impact on the species that it preys upon,” Ginn said.”In other areas of the country, raccoons do have an effect on waterfowl populations because they eat the eggs. We haven’t really targeted that, so we don’t actually know if that’s the case, but it’s possible.”The forests, fish and wildlife division is working to secure more protected land for some animals. Ginn said around 4.5 per cent of P.E.I. is currently reserved for wildlife, but the target is seven per cent. The next wildlife report of this kind is set to be published in 2033. ABOUT THE AUTHORDelaney Kelly is a journalist with CBC P.E.I. who studied journalism at Concordia University. She was previously a reporter at Iori:wase in Kahnawake Mohawk Territory.
Wildlife report finds majority of P.E.I. species to be stable, while others are on the brink
