Endangered Species

The Chain Lakes Wilderness Area is home to a rich diversity of plant and animal life, but not all of it is thriving. Several species that depend on this unique forest and wetland ecosystem are now classified as threatened or at risk, due to habitat loss, climate change, and industrial pressures. Protecting Chain Lakes means protecting the species that call it home. Below, you’ll find information on some of the key endangered species in the region and why their survival depends on keeping this landscape wild and intact.

Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Status: Threatened (Canada Species at Risk Act)

The Olive-sided Flycatcher is a striking, insect-eating songbird found in the Chain Lakes Wilderness Area—and it’s one of the many species under threat from habitat loss and landscape disturbance in Nova Scotia.

Habitat in Chain Lakes

This flycatcher prefers open coniferous forests and forest edges—precisely the kind of habitat found in the Chain Lakes Wilderness Area. It nests high in spruce and fir trees near wetlands, lakes, or post-fire areas. These birds rely on large, undisturbed tracts of forest, making intact wilderness areas critical for their survival.

Why It's at Risk

Olive-sided Flycatchers are declining across their range. Threats include:

Loss of overwintering habitat due to deforestation in South America
Declines in insect populations, which make up their entire diet
Fragmentation of forest landscapes from mining, logging, and road construction
Fire suppression and climate change, which reduce the open-canopy conditions they need

Canada Warbler

Status: Threatened (Canada Species at Risk Act)

The Canada Warbler is a vibrant, quick-moving songbird sometimes nicknamed the “necklaced warbler” for the bold, dark streaks that ring its bright yellow chest. Though small and elusive, it’s a vital part of the forest ecosystems in Nova Scotia, including the Chain Lakes Wilderness Area.

Habitat in Chain Lakes

The Canada Warbler breeds in mature deciduous and mixed forests with a thick, shrubby understory, often near water. These are exactly the kinds of conditions found in the Chain Lakes Wilderness Area. Because they rely on low, tangled vegetation, they’re particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and forest fragmentation.

Why It’s at Risk

Canada Warbler populations are declining across their range, including in Nova Scotia. Key threats include:

Forest clearing and fragmentation, especially near roads, mines, or development
Loss of winter habitat in the tropical Andes of South America
Decreased insect populations, due to pesticides and climate change
Parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds, which lay their eggs in warbler nests
Collisions with buildings and towers during night migration

Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)

Status: Endangered (Ontario Species at Risk Act)

The Black Ash is a native hardwood tree vital to the health of wetlands and cultural traditions in eastern Canada. In Nova Scotia’s wet forests and floodplains, including the Chain Lakes Wilderness Area, this species helps stabilize soil, store water, and support biodiversity. Today, the Black Ash is at serious risk of disappearing due to the spread of a highly destructive invasive pest.

Habitat in Chain Lakes

Chain Lakes provides ideal habitat for Black Ash, moist lowland areas, mixed forest stands, and riparian edges that have been undisturbed by industry. These trees play a vital ecological role, supporting insects, birds, and amphibians, and helping maintain wetland health and forest resilience.

Why It’s at Risk

The greatest threat to Black Ash is the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive beetle introduced to North America in the 1990s. Once established, EAB larvae burrow under the bark, cutting off the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. This has already caused the death of millions of ash trees in Ontario and beyond.

Other threats include: